Notting Hill Couple Ordered to Remove Planters After Neighbour Feud
A wealthy French couple who adorned their £2.5 million Notting Hill home with colourful metre-high planters have been ordered to dismantle them following an acrimonious planning dispute with neighbours described as hostile. Nicolas Joseph and his wife Stephanie, who purchased the four-bedroom family home in an exclusive mews in 2022, now face a three-month deadline to remove the aluminium containers that encircle their roof terrace.
Years-Long Feud Reignited
The conflict reportedly reignited a years-long neighbourhood feud that began with the previous owner, controversial trans barrister Lady Samantha Kane. According to neighbours, tensions first flared when Lady Kane, believed to be the only person in Britain to have changed gender three times, transformed the flat roof into a terrace without planning permission. One neighbour claimed this allowed people to look directly into their five-year-old daughter's bedroom.
After acquiring the property, the Josephs first increased the height of the rear terrace wall, accessible through a window hatch, and later installed a ring of aluminium plant boxes filled with real and artificial blooms. Some affluent neighbours argued these towering containers created a barricade that blocked light to surrounding houses.
Council Enforcement Action
Kensington and Chelsea Council officials launched enforcement action in August last year, claiming the planters had been installed without proper planning permission. The couple maintained the containers caused no harm and actually improved privacy for neighbours. They told the Daily Mail the situation had been exacerbated by a small number of hostile neighbours whose complaints appeared to influence the enforcement decision.
Planning inspector Jason Whitfield ruled the planters created a substantial increase in the height of solid built form, describing them as stark and prominent. He concluded their stark appearance, black colouring, and solid design caused significant harm to neighbours' outlook, though he acknowledged they didn't harm the area's character or cause privacy loss.
Neighbourhood Reactions
The street, once part of a notorious 19th-century slum called the Potteries and Piggeries, now lies within the heavily-protected Norland Conservation Area, where residents are often prohibited from making even modest property changes. Neighbour opinions were divided, with some condemning the council's harsh enforcement while others supported preserving the street's character.
One neighbour who supported removal said the planters created an intrusive barricade, describing the situation as a nightmare. Another argued the council was right to preserve buildings in the historic area. However, other residents defended the planters, with one calling the enforcement outrageous and stating the street needed more greenery.
Complex Planning Ruling
In a nuanced ruling, the Planning Inspectorate found the planters didn't harm the area's character or cause harmful privacy loss to neighbours. However, Mr Whitfield concluded there was significant harm to neighbouring properties' living conditions regarding outlook. The Josephs have three months from February 11 to remove the structures.
The couple expressed frustration, stating they never imagined having a lawful roof terrace would cause so much trouble. They noted they replaced original approved planters with more discreet ones to create a neater appearance and worked constructively with the council. They argued enforcement was disproportionate since multiple other roof terraces exist along the same street.
Lady Samantha Kane, who sold the property to the Josephs for £2.2 million in 2022 and now styles herself Lady Samantha Carbisdale after purchasing a £5 million Scottish castle, told the Mail she had no knowledge of subsequent planning decisions, having sold the property as seen.
