A woman who controversially painted her £15m Kensington home with large red and white stripes has been ordered to repaint the building.
Zipporah Lisle-Mainwaring is reported to have given her town house, in South End, the distinctive face-lift after neighbours objected to plans for a massive basement extension.
But she has now been told to return the building to its former appearance by Kensington & Chelsea Council or risk prosecution, and set a July 3 deadline to carry out the work.
The news will come as a welcome relief to neighbours, who were horrified with the appearance of the house, likening it to a beach-hut or circus Big Top.
A spokesman for the royal borough said: “A section 215 notice has been served (under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990) on the owner of a property in South End by the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea.
“The property is situated within the Kensington Square Conservation Area and its condition and appearance has attracted numerous complaints to the council’s planning enforcement team. In addition to the exterior being painted red and white stripes, the property’s window frames are in a poor condition.
“The owner has the right to appeal the notice by June 5 in the magistrates’ courts but, if no appeal is forthcoming, the owner must repaint the front elevation white and carry out repairs to the windows by July 3.
“If the notice is not complied with by July 3 then the council can enter the property and carry out the necessary works. Furthermore the council can charge the owner for the costs in carrying out the works and prosecute them in the magistrates’ courts.”
Neighbours had been united in their opposition to the property’s new look.
Speaking earlier in April, one resident said: “I don’t like it. Neither my wife or myself were particularly amused by it.
“Everyone I know is disappointed that this has happened. I know no-one that likes it and it doesn’t enhance the area.”
Saskia Moyle, 18, an A-level student at Latymer School, who lives opposite, said: “It’s a real monstrosity - it sounds bad to say that it isn’t very Kensington but it just looks so weird. It’s like a cross between a beach hut and a circus.
“My dad really doesn’t like it, he thinks it’s an absolute monstrosity.
“This whole road has basically been united in its hatred of that house.”
At the time, Kensington & Chelsea Council said painting of the building did not require planning permission.
The local authority spokesman also said it had issued 24 section 215 notices in the past 12 months.
