Residents on a leafy London street have clashed over controversial renovtations made to a £1.2million townhouse.
The property, located on Hungerford Road in Islington, is now being compared to a “Love Island villa”.
Homeowners on Hungerford Road claimed that their neighbour has been allowed to develop the property “with impunity,” despite strict planning rules requiring uniformity among houses.
The dispute has prompted Islington Council to launch an enforcement investigation into potential breaches of planning regulations.
Neighbours clash as ‘shockingly bright’ renovations on £1.2m townhouse compared to Love Island villa and Las Vegas
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Local residents claim they have faced significant restrictions when making even minor modifications to their own properties in the conservation area.
The renovated property has drawn particular criticism for its “shockingly bright” lights, which neighbours say give it the appearance of “Las Vegas” on their otherwise traditional Victorian street.
The controversy centres on modifications that residents say have dramatically altered the street’s historic character.
“This is a row of houses that were all made to a pattern,” long-term resident Andrew Pegram said. “[This house] looks nothing like the other houses in the street.”
The property’s bright illumination has become a particular point of contention among neighbours.
“[The lights] are shockingly bright. A lot of us have a light, but nothing like that,” Pegram noted, adding there is also extensive lighting at the rear of the property.
Residents have suggested to the council that the homeowner might be receiving “favourable treatment” compared to other property owners in the conservation area.
A resident of nearly 20 years, who wished to remain anonymous, highlighted the stark contrast in planning enforcement on the street.
“We don’t want to come across as Nimbys,” she said. “I think we are all quite willing to accept that if your neighbour wants to dress up their house like Love Island, you should let them.”
However, she described her own struggle to make simple modifications to her property.
She and her husband were initially rejected when applying to replace a window, despite it matching other houses on the road.
“Even the simplest thing we have not been able to do,” she said. “But what has annoyed and perplexed us is that [they] seem to be contravening the planning policy and the council are defending it.”
Pegram, who has lived on Hungerford Road since 1980, expressed concern about the changing character of the neighbourhood.
“This is a row of houses which has a general appearance which is uniform, and now there is one sore thumb,” he said.
Pegram noted that the area has transformed significantly since he first moved in.
He added: “It was a little undiscovered when we first came here.
“Now, we are within walking distance of Google HQ at Kings Cross. It’s quite a desirable street to live on, but this [house] undermines the desirability.”
Pegram also emphasised the strong community spirit on the street, adding: “We are a real community, so we are kind of offended when somebody rides roughshod over us like this.”
An Islington Council spokesman an investigation into the dispute is now ongoing.
“We are committed to ensuring that planning regulations are applied fairly and consistently across the borough,” the spokesman said.
The council acknowledged they are aware of residents’ concerns about the Hungerford Road property.
The property is currently subject to a live Enforcement Investigation to determine whether work has been completed without permission or against approved plans.
The planning department is also assessing a separate live planning application relating to part of the works.
The council declined to comment further, stating they did not want to “prejudice any part of the ongoing investigation.”
