CANADIAN BILLIONAIRE AND HIS FOUR BASEMENT PLAN-STOP HIM!

By great good fortune the Evening Standard are avid readers of the Dame. One of their alert journalists', Maxine Frith,  picked up on the Hornet's revelation of billionaire David Graham's selfish plans for The Old Court House in Walton Street. 
But what are the three Brompton Ward cllrs doing about this threat to ward amenities? We have heard nothing from Cllr Marshall, Mosley or Barkhordar.
Residents have just a couple of days to protest; after that it will too late.
In the meantime the Dame has applied to have the building listed. 

There are some silly comments by on the article so residents might wish to make their voices heard by commenting here

"Knightsbridge neighbours aghast at millionaire’s plan for a three storey basement 
Plans to dig more than 50ft below ground for a sauna, car lift, and ballroom (naturally)"

Famous author Edna O'Brian

The Standard

06 November 2012

Plans for a huge three-storey basement extension that will treble the size of a Knightsbridge house have sparked an angry campaign from neighbours, including novelist Edna O’Brien.

The excavation will descend more than 50 feet below the surface — deeper than the height of neighbouring houses — and will feature a 14 metre swimming pool, hot tub, sauna, massage room, ballroom, covered courtyards, staff accommodation, parking for three vehicles, a turning circle and car lift.
There will also be large wine cellars, an art storage room, gym facilities and his and hers changing rooms at the house owned by David Graham, a Canadian who made hundreds of millions of pounds when he sold his cable television business.
“These plans are absolutely monstrous and unnecessary,” said the Duchess of St Albans, who is among neighbours who have objected. “It’s just absolute greed. No one needs that much space. Quite apart from that, the commotion is going to be dreadful.”
A spokesman for the Milner Road Area Residents Association said: “This is totally out of keeping with the relatively small size of other houses in the area. Why should we all suffer just so one man can indulge his fantasy?”
Mr Graham, 75, who was once married to Barbara Amiel, wife of the disgraced media mogul Conrad Black, bought the former magistrates’ court, which was built as a school in the 19th century, for an undisclosed sum in 2000.
He was granted planning permission to turn it into a family home, with a swimming pool and one basement level. He now wants three more underground storeys, which will cover most of the footprint of the house and extend under the landscaped garden.
According to the planning application submitted to Kensington and Chelsea council, Mr Graham “has been looking for a larger house in the locality which has proved unsuccessful. He therefore wishes to extend his home to provide further accommodation to suit his family’s needs as required by today’s contemporary living.”
Bell Cornwell, the planning company that submitted the application on his behalf, said the conversion would take up to four years and involve moving 1,375 large skipfuls of earth along narrow Ovington Street and around Cadogan Square.
Residents have complained that the council informed only a small number of people in the area about the proposals, with the deadline for objections next week. Local businesses are also concerned about the effect the work will have on trade.
Mona Perlhagan, who owns the Chelsea Textiles shop in Walton Street, said: “It is an absolutely massive job. It is not going to be a pleasant environment for people to work in. It’ll be bad for business, bad for the environment, bad for the residents.”
Gallery owner Stephanie Hoppen said: “It is going to destroy the street. It is the most beautiful house. It is not necessary to make it bigger.” Applications for basement conversions in the borough have quadrupled since 2003 and this year the council said it was drawing up measures — due out by the end of the year — which could limit developments to one floor below ground.
Mr Graham could not be contacted for comment.