Exclusive London street is turned into a building site to fury of musician Jimmy Page

One of the most expensive streets in Britain has been turned into a construction site with seven properties currently undergoing building work.

Multi-million pound properties on Ilchester Place, situated in the celebrity enclave of Holland Park, west London, are covered in scaffolding, and some have been almost completely demolished for renovations.

The street, dubbed ‘Millionaires Row’ was crowned the UK’s priciest road in 2019, according to Lloyds Bank, before being usurped by Avenue Road in the north-west of the capital last year.

The works on several of the mega mansions by the wealthy owners has sparked fury among local residents, including Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page, whose historic Grade I listed house backs onto the street.

After fighting a seven-year planning row with next-door neighbour Robbie Williams, having argued the vibrations from Williams’ ‘super basement’ would destroy his ‘richly decorated’ home, the musician is now surrounded by building work – and he’s written two complaints to Kensington and Chelsea Borough council.

One of the properties being developed is that of ‘Candy Crush inventor’ Riccardo Zacconi, who purchased a detached nine bedroom, nine bathroom home, for £30 million in April 2019.  

Britain’s most expensive street has been turned into a giant construction site, much to the annoyance of Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page

The owners at No 16 have plans for a single-storey basement underneath the house and garden, which backs onto Page's property named Tower House, dating back to 1875

The owners at No 16 have plans for a single-storey basement underneath the house and garden, which backs onto Page’s property named Tower House, dating back to 1875 

One of the properties has been demolished, retaining only the outer shell, and has planning permission for a basement with various other extensions

One of the properties has been demolished, retaining only the outer shell, and has planning permission for a basement with various other extensions

No 9 Ilchester Place

No 10 Ilchester Place

Both No 9, left, and No 10, right, are in the midst of the posh street’s two biggest projects having completely razed the properties, keeping only the facade

Ilchester Place is situated in the celebrity enclave of Holland Park, west London, and is dubbed 'Millionaires Row', which was crowned the UK's priciest road in 2019, according to Lloyds Bank

Ilchester Place is situated in the celebrity enclave of Holland Park, west London, and is dubbed ‘Millionaires Row’, which was crowned the UK’s priciest road in 2019, according to Lloyds Bank

Jimmy Page's next-door neighbour is Robbie Williams and there are a number of other wealthy homeowners on the street. Each property numbered in this graphic is currently undergoing building work

Jimmy Page’s next-door neighbour is Robbie Williams and there are a number of other wealthy homeowners on the street. Each property numbered in this graphic is currently undergoing building work

Despite the hefty price tag, Zacconi, co-founder of King, which developed the addictive mobile phone game, has demolished the property, retaining only the outer shell, and has planning permission for a basement with various other extensions. 

Elsewhere on the street, ‘Shock Jock’ French producer and presenter Arthur Essebag – whose company Satisfaction Group recently acquired Sony Pictures France – owns a property and has just completed a basement extension.    

Meanwhile, the owners at No 16 have plans for a single-storey basement underneath the house and garden, which backs onto his property named Tower House, dating back to 1875.

It was approved in June this year despite two letters of objection – ten-page and six-pages long – from Page, who states that he was never consulted at any stage of No 16’s development and complained about ‘inadequate plans, spoil removal, assessment of noise, vibration and dust, and movement’.

Both No 9 and No 10 are in the midst of the posh street’s two biggest projects having completely razed the properties, keeping only the facade.

According to the planning application, No 9 is a ‘re-construction to include extensions at ground and first floor levels and rooflights, single-storey basement extension with front and rear lightwells, [and] re-orientation of swimming pool.’ It’s a similar story for No 10.

Jimmy Page

Robbie Williams

After a seven-year planning row with next-door neighbour Robbie Williams, right, the musician, left, is now surrounded by building work – and he’s made it clear he’s not happy about it with two long written complaints

The street houses 24 exclusive properties, worth a combined £1 billion, where there are seven demolition and renovation projects

The street houses 24 exclusive properties, worth a combined £1 billion, where there are seven demolition and renovation projects

Jimmy Page's Tower House, left, and Robbie Williams's house, hidden by trees on Ilchester Place in west London

Jimmy Page’s Tower House, left, and Robbie Williams’s house, hidden by trees on Ilchester Place in west London

The Led Zeppelin guitarist had roof work done on his property in September 2016 and using a firm with the same name as one of Williams's biggest hits, Millennium

The Led Zeppelin guitarist had roof work done on his property in September 2016 and using a firm with the same name as one of Williams’s biggest hits, Millennium

Meanwhile, at No 7, developments are just beginning with the intention of an ‘extension of basement at front and rear’, a first floor extension and new conservatory.

And, finally, No 17 had planning permission granted in July last year for the ‘replacement of a rear conservatory to improve thermal and acoustic properties.’

Away from the building drama of Ilchester Place, Page and the former Take That singer have been at loggerheads since Williams bought the adjacent Grade II-listed house for £17.5 million 2013.

In 2018, Williams finally got the green light to go ahead with a ‘super-basement’, which includes an indoor pool, gym and underground passageway to the main house.

Page had argued that the vibrations would destroy his ‘richly decorated’ home, with fragile ancient paintings and frescoes. 

He has repeatedly complained about his neighbour’s planning applications for trying to add mod-cons such as a summer terrace and music studio.

Page's historic Grade I listed house, considered one of London's most important homes, backs onto the street and he's fuming at all the building work

Page’s historic Grade I listed house, considered one of London’s most important homes, backs onto the street and he’s fuming at all the building work 

Riccardo Zacconi

Arthur Essebag

‘Candy Crush inventor’ Riccardo Zacconi, left, and ‘Shock Jock’ producer and presenter Arthur Essebag, right, also own properties on the exclusive streat

Away from the building drama of Ilchester Place, Page and the former Take That singer have been at loggerheads since Williams bought the adjacent Grade II-listed house, pictured behind trees, for £17.5 million 2013

Away from the building drama of Ilchester Place, Page and the former Take That singer have been at loggerheads since Williams bought the adjacent Grade II-listed house, pictured behind trees, for £17.5 million 2013

In 2018, Williams finally got the green light to go ahead with a 'super-basement', which includes an indoor pool, gym and underground passageway to the main house

In 2018, Williams finally got the green light to go ahead with a ‘super-basement’, which includes an indoor pool, gym and underground passageway to the main house

The battle of the bands: How former Take That star and Led Zep legend were at loggerheads

The pair were involved in a seven-year dispute over Williams’ plans for an underground gym and swimming pool at his home in Kensington, west London. 

Page has raised fears that construction work carried out by Williams could damage his Grade I listed gothic revival mansion, Tower House, and its ornately decorated interior of stained glass, decorative plasterwork and ceramic tiling.

The Stairway To Heaven guitarist said vibrations and ground movement in particular could cause irreversible damage, with the homes around 43ft (13m) apart.

In January 2019, Robbie was said to have mocked Jimmy by dressing up as his bandmate Robert Plant and playing rival rock music outside his neighbour’s home, according to reports. 

The row finally came to an end in September of that year when council officials intervened following eight months of negotiations.

Council planners approved the scheme but insisted the pair meet to ensure works were carried out to the satisfaction of both parties. 

The council also attached the condition that Williams should set aside a pot of money as a bond, to be forfeited to make good any damage to Page’s property.