JAMES CORDEN TOLD TO TEAR UP PAVING SLABS FOR HIS BINS
James Corden has been ordered to rip up paving for his wheelie bins at his £11.5m mansion.
The TV host undertook the landscaping works at the front of the Victorian town house, in north London, earlier this year.
But neighbours claimed the work impacted on the local conservation area, which has been designated because of special architectural or historic interest, and reduced biodiversity.
Now Camden council has refused planning permission for the work, telling Corden that the paving work is “out of character” with the local area and is “unsightly”.
The council said the Gavin and Stacey star, 46, had been given two months to remove the paving or face enforcement action. He moved into the property near Camden last year with his wife, Julia Carey, and their three children.
In a retrospective planning application submitted to Camden council in September after works had taken place, his planning agents said the paving slabs had been repurposed from his back garden and new trees had been planted. The works have also resulted in the loss of a planting bed measuring 11 square metres.
An article four direction is also in place because of the conservation area, which means planning permission must be sought for paving works.
‘Not good for wildlife in the area’
One local resident wrote in planning documents: “If all the houses in the conservation area decided to pave over 11m2 of existing flowerbeds in their front gardens, there would be a very serious negative impact on the character and appearance of the conservation area.
“While the application provides photos of ‘during re-paving works’, it provides no photos of what the drive and flowerbed looked like before the works took place, as would have been required for a normal planning application seeking permission before works started.”
Another local, who has lived on the road for 40 years, wrote: “Front gardens being paved over is bad for the environment. It is not good for wildlife in the area, and it reduces the enjoyment of residents who now look at barren areas instead of plants and flowers.
“I know how much greener the road used to be. It’s so sad seeing the disregard for conservation. Please revoke the planning permission for this.”
‘Loss of green space’
Cllr Tom Simon, the leader of the Liberal Democrats on Camden council, also objected to the plans, adding: “There is no valid justification for the loss of green space in this instance, so the application should be resisted.”
In an objection, the Belsize Society, which seeks to maintain high standards of architecture and conservation in the neighbourhood, said: “[We] object to this retrospective application for unauthorised work carried out in contravention to the article four direction on paving of front gardens.
“We feel this detracts from the appearance of this sensitive frontage in the conservation area. The removal of natural habitat reduces biodiversity in an already reduced area and the use of mass-produced industrial materials is inappropriate in this heritage setting.
“There are concerns the impermeable nature of the surface will increase ground water run-off and potentially damage the two acer trees on the site (as well as the potential damage caused during the construction).”
‘Paving over an area of front garden’
Corden’s planning agents added: “The planning application has been submitted as a consequence of this requirement [article four direction] because it involves paving over an area of the front garden where it was not previously paved and therefore changing the size or material of the paved areas. It does not involve paving for a patio or hardstanding for cars.
“The proposal is a householder development and results in a reduction in the existing planting bed by 11m², the retention of existing trees and the planting of four new trees planted with a mix of plants to enhance the soft landscaping.
“An area of approximately 18m2 has been repaved, including a previously existing area of gravel with permeable concrete paving slabs recycled from the rear garden.
“The works to the front garden in the form of re-landscaping do not impact or diminish the positive contribution that the property makes to the special character and appearance of the area.”
Oxfordshire bat roosts discovered
Meanwhile, in a separate case, bat roosts have been discovered on the site of Corden’s planned £8m mansion in Oxfordshire.
The actor and comedian plans to demolish the existing property and build a new, six-bedroom mansion at the site near Henley-on-Thames. He was granted planning permission but was asked to comply with dozens of regulations to safeguard local wildlife and trees.
In planning documents submitted to Wokingham council earlier this year, an ecological report commissioned by Corden’s planning representatives revealed that five-day bat roosts were present. It said that an updated bat survey was needed prior to demolition of the existing property on the land.
It is an offence to disturb, injure or kill bats as well as damage their roosts as they are a protected species, according to the Wildlife and Countryside Act.
The Telegraph contacted Corden’s representatives for comment.
2025-11-16T17:10:45Z