Robbie Williams has finally secured victory after felling a 70ft tree at his £17.5million home to the fury of his neighbors – after winning a planning battle lasting more than a year and a half.
The 49-year-old Angels singer has long been a controversial figure on the posh Kensington Road where he lives – and previously had a bitter row with his neighbor Jimmy Page after he requested a basement pool be installed in his London apartment.
But the former Take That singer felled the giant black locust tree just four days before Christmas after the rock star received permission for the work in August after experts found there had been “significant deterioration”.
The 49-year-old Angels singer requested the removal of the locust tree at the end of June. He blamed the deterioration at the base and said it had caused damage to the garden wall of his plush London villa.
He had previously attempted to remove the plant from his front garden in April 2022, but was unsuccessful as he was unable to provide evidence of the “extent of decay”.
New images of his home now show for the first time the bare spot where the tree once stood, as a large piece of wicker has been placed over the empty patch to protect his garden from passers-by.
Robbie Williams felled the giant black locust tree just four days before Christmas after the rock star was given permission for the work in August after experts found there had been “significant deterioration”.
New images of his home now show for the first time the bare spot where the tree once stood, as a large piece of wicker has been placed over the empty patch to protect his garden from passers-by
Huge cracks in the masonry of its outer wall highlighted the damage caused by the aging trunk when it was knocked over
He had previously attempted to remove the plant from his front garden in April 2022, but was unsuccessful as he was unable to provide evidence of the “extent of decay”. Pictured: The tree in August
The 49-year-old Angels singer has long been a controversial figure on the posh Kensington Road where he lives – and previously had a bitter row with his neighbor Jimmy Page after he requested a basement pool be installed in his London apartment
And huge cracks in the masonry of its outer wall revealed the damage caused by the aging trunk when it was knocked over.
Council leaders say if the wall had been left in place it would have ultimately led to the wall falling.
But the victory was hard-fought and an unnamed neighbor criticized his latest plans as he tried to push them past the council – saying enough trees had already fallen to his axe.
They protested against the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, saying: “I would like to strongly object to this application.”
“Mr. Williams has already received permission to cut down several trees on his property and now another is likely to fall victim to his wishes.”
“How many more does he want to wipe out from his possession?
“Trees are our friends and not our enemies.” We must love them – and not attack them with an axe.'
The tree is subject to a tree protection order – meaning it cannot be felled, uprooted or damaged without the written consent of the local authority – and is located in a nature reserve.
In the weeks leading up to the property's demolition, a sign appeared outside his home next to yellow cones warning neighbors that they were not allowed to park in front of his entrance on December 21 between 8:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m
The sign said the tree operation would take 10 hours – and it was attached to a post overgrown by the tree's branches
As part of the city council's decision to approve his plans, he decreed that Williams must put up a silver birch tree in its place – and if it dies within five years of planting, he must continue to replace it with a plant of similar size and type
But Williams claimed he feared the tree was so diseased it might fall over and wanted it removed entirely
But Williams claimed he feared the tree was so diseased it might fall over and wanted it removed entirely.
However, as part of the city council's decision to approve his plans, he decreed that Williams must put up a silver birch tree in its place – and if it dies within five years of planting, he must continue to replace it with a plant of similar size and species .
In the weeks leading up to the property's demolition, a sign appeared outside his home next to yellow cones warning neighbors that they were not allowed to park in front of his entrance on December 21 between 8:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Amanda Reid, director of planning and space at RBKC Council, explained her decision in her planning permission, saying: “The applicants have submitted an arboriculture report from Crown Consultants.”
“The report states that there is significant decline in the secondary stem and it will only be a matter of time before fungal pathogens colonize the main stem.”
“The lower part of the main trunk is now pressing on the boundary wall and numerous cracks are visible on the pavement outside the property.”
“In this case, repair is not a realistic option as the tree will remain in place as the garden level is approximately 1.2 meters above the level of the external paving.
“If this tree were left, the boundary wall would have to be repaired regularly until the tree completely knocks it down.
Williams requested the removal of the 70-foot-tall Robina tree in front of his plush Holland Park mansion (pictured) in late June.
Robbie Williams, pictured with his wife Ayda Field, previously wanted to trim the tree outside his home to three feet – but the new goal is to “remove” it.
The Angels singer says the tree has decayed at the base and caused damage to the garden wall of his plush London mansion
“Ultimately, this is an overripe specimen and there are safety concerns. It has outgrown its location and should now be replaced with a half-grown tree, planted in a more realistic location further away from the border wall.”
His latest offer came shortly after the former boy band star was accused of “environmental vandalism” for planning to trim 14 plants in his garden because it would block light from reaching his Holland Park home.
The Take That frontman and the 79-year-old Led Zeppelin rocker Page have been at loggerheads in recent years over the former Take That star's plans to build a mega basement in his villa.
Just two weeks after Williams' last failed attempt to rid his garden of Robina, the “Stairway to Heaven” rocker was allowed to prune trees in his luxury apartment.
In April 2022 he submitted plans to transform a laurel tree in front of his listed property and a month later the plans were approved, with the council describing the work as “routine maintenance”.
But the couple, whose homes are next door to each other, are said to have presented a united front the last time Williams applied to reduce the height of his black locust tree.
Planning documents indicate that no neighbors have submitted formal objections or comments to the plan.
Instead, it was reported that the 78-year-old Stairway to Heaven guitarist was “fully behind” the plan and accepted that the tree needed to be drastically pruned.
Williams and Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page, pictured, had both previously agreed that the tree should be cut down
Pictured: The tree in April 2022, when Williams last requested that the giant Robina tree be cut back
Council officials, acting under delegated powers, rejected the plan, saying the tree could only be beheaded to a height of one meter to allow it to grow back.
This happened despite Williams' sprawling monster destroying his garden wall, obscuring a streetlight and rotting at the base.
They even suggested that Williams rebuild and move his cracked boundary wall to allow the tree to grow more.
Amanda Reid, the council's planning and local director, said: “If there is decay at the base of the tree, the extent of the decay will need to be quantified before consideration can be given to removing this high-use TPO tree.”
“If the tree causes cracks in the wall, cutting the tree to a height of 1 meter will not solve this problem as the tree regenerates.”
“In addition, the wall could probably be rebuilt to allow for future growth of the tree without causing damage again.”
Robbie's latest planning battle also sparked anger from neighbors – he tried to cut back 14 plants on the grounds that they would block light from reaching his house.
One grumbled: “Hello, I think these trees should be left standing as cutting down healthy trees is an act of environmental vandalism.”
Williams claims he fears the tree is so diseased it could break or fall and wants it removed entirely. Pictured: His cracked garden wall
“A shame for anyone who wants to destroy our green friends.” “They give us life – we should respect theirs.”
The feuding rock stars previously fell out after Williams requested a basement pool be installed at his £17million Kensington home.
But the Led Zeppelin guitarist objected, fearing it would damage delicate artwork in his listed mansion next door.
Page, a two-time inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, told the council in 2018 that he would fight “against a new threat” to the home he has lived in for fifty years.
The mansion previously belonged to poet John Betjeman and Dumbledore actor Richard Harris.
He outbid David Bowie to buy it in 1972, aged just 28.
Tower House was designed by “art architect” William Burges as his home between 1875 and 1881 – and the rooms have themes of time, love and literature.
To maintain the house, the rock star has specialists install scaffolding and soap the walls with sugar soap. To prevent damage, he only plays acoustic guitar.
Williams finally received approval for his basement in 2019 after a nearly five-year battle, and work was scheduled to begin this year.
The Page mansion previously belonged to poet John Betjeman and Dumbledore actor Richard Harris. He outbid David Bowie to buy it in 1972, aged just 28. Pictured from left to right: John Bonham, Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones in Led Zeppelin
His construction company sent a letter to residents in April informing them that construction would begin and last 11 months. However, it is not known whether work has started.
Williams had to use hand tools during construction to minimize vibrations, which massively increased construction costs.
Work on Williams' home is expected to take 46 weeks – including prep and prep work, piling and underpinning, top-to-bottom slab construction, excavation and shoring, concrete boxing and waterproofing.
Williams lived in his 47-room home after purchasing it in 2013 from the family of the late director and restaurant critic Michael Winner.
During this time there were 46 planning decisions as he worked to renovate the building.
The rocker defied Williams in 2016 by having work done on his roof by a company called Millennium, the name of one of the singer's biggest hits.
In 2017, the Take That star submitted plans for a huge shed on stilts in his garden so his children could have somewhere to play.
This sparked outrage from local residents, who complained that it blocked light in their gardens and detracted from the surrounding area.
Williams later sparked even more anger and was forced to apologize after he said the guitarist was mentally ill and had sat in his car outside his home for hours.
He told Italian radio DeeJay: “Jimmy sat in his car in front of our house for four hours straight.”
“He records the workers to see if they are making too much noise.” The construction workers came in and he slept in his garden and waited. It’s like mental illness.”