I bought George Michael’s £19million mansion – now I’m going to tear it apart even though the neighbours are furious
A GEORGE Michael “superfan” has won permission to tear apart his beloved former home despite angry protests from posh local resident groups.
Family of the singer, who passed away on Christmas Day in 2016, sold his Grade II-listed Highgate home to multi-millionaire "super fans" Stephen Cameron and wife Clare Harrison in 2020.
Kate Moss used to live next door to her good pal Michael and claimed that she’d get a ladder and climb over with daughter Lily Grace to frolic in the pool.
The plush pad was previously being rented out privately to celebs before being sold.
Comms guru Cameron - who regularly features on The Sunday Times rich list with a £171m fortune - won permission from Camden Council for a "super basement" under the front garden, which includes living accommodation and a second kitchen.
They’ve also been allowed to extend the existing outbuilding, including outdoor shower and roof terrace, relocate the swimming pool and add a pergola.
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In July last year, the couple were granted permission for “minor alterations" including a new bedroom, moving the kitchen, reconfiguring rooms, a new chimney stack and staircase, adjusting door openings and windows.
They also won permission to change the front railings.
Cameron's applications have been hotly contested by The Highgate Society and the Highgate Conservation Area Advisory Committee (HCAAC).
The society says that it "strongly objects" with the application changing the house "unnecessarily, and in a derogatory manner, alter the frontages of one of the finest rows of houses in the Highgate Conservation Area."
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The society raises the issue that the basement could cause structural issues after problems with work at the nearby historic Witanhurst Mansion, the second largest private residence in London after Buckingham Palace.
"Given that the owners of some properties in The Grove believe that problems have arisen as a result of the basement works at Witanhurst, we would urge the Council to instruct an independent audit of the proposals," the group states in a letter of objection.
The HCAAC submitted a complaint, saying: "We are very concerned that what is being proposed in respect of the front of the property adversely affects the harmony and the setting of the important listed buildings in the row on The Grove and does not enhance the character and appearance of the Highgate Conservation Area."
Cameron was delighted with the house purchase, with the married father of three telling the Daily Mail at the time: “It's a beautiful property, stunning and I'm looking forward to living there. I'm also a huge George Michael fan so that makes it even better.”
Millionaire businessman Cameron founded medical communications firm Nucleus Global, which was sold in November 2020, and had 800 employees and 14 offices across the US, Europe and Asia.
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