Fashion Mogul Wins Pool Townhouse Battle

Bronte Mance, co-founder of the luxury footwear brand Naked Wolfe, has won an appeal against Westminster Council's refusal to allow a significant renovation of her £5 million townhouse in London's Belgravia. The council had initially deemed the plans, which involve merging her four-storey maisonette with a separate basement flat to create a larger family home, as 'excessive'.

The proposed transformation also included a conservatory, new windows, landscaping, and notably, an outdoor swimming pool. A neighbor had objected to the pool, citing concerns about increased noise and the disruption of a 'green oasis' in the historic area.

Despite the council's argument that merging the properties would result in an "excessively sized" single dwelling and the unnecessary loss of a separate flat, Planning Inspector Ann Veevers allowed the appeal. She found no reason to reject the pool plans and stated the merged property, while large, would be three bedrooms and not unreasonably so.

The inspector's decision was influenced by the proposal to restore the building closer to its original historic layout, thereby preserving the Grade II-listed building and the Belgravia Conservation Area's character. Naked Wolfe, known for its celebrity clientele and chunky platform boots, has experienced rapid growth since its 2017 founding.