Couple win four year battle to build ‘Disney World’ turret extension for their daughter

By Hannah Neary, Local Democracy Reporter

Parents have won a battle to put a turret on their home after neighbours complained it looked like something at ‘Disney World’.

A couple in Horton Street, Kensington, have won a four-year battle to build an extension on their daughter’s bedroom so she has more room to study.

Rita and Gagik Apkarian want to build a turret on the north-east corner of their house opposite Kensington Town Hall, according to planning documents.

But plans sparked outrage among neighbours, who said the feature was more suited to Disney World and not in keeping with the area.

Kensington and Chelsea council received objections to the plans, including residents’ group the Kensington Society.

A spokesman for the society said: “This is in the heart of Kensington and surrounded by Listed II and II* [buildings]. This is not Disney World nor Camelot.”

The letter also said the turret is a “look at me feature” that will “further distract from the cottagey original appearance” of the property.

He said: “The room it is appended onto is a bedroom of a large size. The turret appears to be filled with a desk. It is home working space? If so it is poorly design for such working. The turret is unnecessary.”

One angry resident said: “One can only gasp at this latest proposed alteration. The tower will therefore clearly jar with the new building and it certainly does not improve the quality of the building.  It is an afterthought and seems driven rather by a desire to create yet more space.”

Rita Apkarian said at a council meeting: “This turret fit for my daughter’s room will create just enough space for a desk and provide a home for longevity by adding two square metres.

“We are not asking for anything that will affect anyone’s quality of life or hurt those around us yet these changes make monumental differences.”

Despite some local anger, 28 residents wrote letters in support of the turret being built.

Kensington and Chelsea council’s planning committee approved the plans on Tuesday, July 5 by three votes to one.

Picture top: left, the property where a turret is set to be built in Kensington (Picture: Google) right, plans for the turret at the house on Horton St, Kensington (Picture: Rayca Design Ltd)