It’s a stellar line-up that would guarantee a run of sell-out shows in the West End.
And now A-listers Dame Emma Thompson, Imelda Staunton, Jim Broadbent, Greg Wise and Sir Derek Jacobi are enjoying a new triumph as they have successfully thwarted a plan to build a ‘Malibu-style’ house in their leafy North London suburb.
The cream of the theatrical world united to fight plans to build the ultra-modern aluminium and glass home in London’s Hampstead and, after a long-running battle, Camden Council rejected the proposal last week.
It comes after Greg Wise and his wife Dame Emma branded the scheme ‘totally inappropriate’ when the designs were unveiled earlier this year. In their objection letter to the council, they said: ‘This is the wrong design in the wrong place. It would fit in perfectly in Malibu, but not in our conservation area.’
Dame Emma Thompson, pictured, was among celebrities who opposed a planning application in Hampstead, north London
The Crown star Imelda Staunton, pictured, who played the late Queen Elizabeth II, also opposed the application
Jim Broadbent, pictured also opposed the planned development
Downton Abbey star Jim Carter and his wife, Imelda Staunton, who played Queen Elizabeth in The Crown, also protested against what they described as the ‘uncompromising and stark, grey aluminium “shed” design’.
The couple, who have lived in their house for 30 years, told the council: ‘This proposed building represents a serious threat to our ability to enjoy our garden and a serious threat to the plants and creatures who share it with us.’ They said the garden is their ‘chief passion’ which was created ‘organically and sustainably’ and had seen ‘36 species of bird, including some real rarities’ visit.
Actor Richard Clifford, who lives with his partner Sir Derek Jacobi, described the ‘out of character’ designs as being ‘more appropriate in a very modern industrial estate’ while Jim Broadbent said the development would ‘radically alter the unique character of the area’.
In rejecting the application, Camden’s chief planning officer Daniel Pope said: ‘The proposed development would result in harmful overlooking of communal gardens and would be detrimental to the amenity of neighbouring occupiers.’
