EastEnders star Davood Ghadami’s Grade II estate completely destroyed by arsonists

EASTENDERS star Davood Ghadami’s Grade II listed estate has been attacked by arsonists – leaving the buildings destroyed.

Essex Police and the Fire Service have confirmed they are treating both the fires at Davood's Netteswell Hall in Harlow as arson.

Both the main building and an outhouse have been decimated by the fires – with photographs showing Davood, 40, trying to assess the damage.

Davood, who played Kush Kazemi in the BBC soap, and his family own a property business called Blackraven Developments.

Last year they had plans to build 20 houses on the estate passed by the council but there was uproar in July this year after they successfully paid to remove six affordable housing units removed from their application.

The first fire started in the main building on October 1 and saw six crews rush to the property.

It took firefighters almost four hours to bring the blaze under control.

Ben Turner from Essex Country Fire and Rescue Service said: “Crews worked really hard in challenging conditions to get the fire under control.

“The roof collapsed, which made extinguishing the fire even more difficult.

“Crews worked tirelessly and I'd like to thank crews from Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service for their assistance.”

The second blaze, seven days later, saw a fire started in the roof of an outbuilding attached to the property.

Photographs from the scene show firefighters tackling the blaze and Davood arriving to see the damage.

In a statement, Essex police said: “We are investigating two fires at a property in Park Lane, Harlow that occurred on 1 October (crime reference 42/253181/22) and 8 October (crime reference 42/254106/22).

“We are treating both incidents as arson and enquiries continue.

“If you have any information, CCTV, dash cam or other footage in relation to this incident, then please get in contact with us.”

In 2018 Davood applied to build 30 houses on the estate.

His application was turned down however with a report stating that the plans could cause “substantial harm” to a “conservation area”.

Another part of the ruling said that the “loss of a heritage asset” could cause “substantial and irrevocable harm”.

A second application was put forward last year and approved.

The approved plans showed how Davood and his business partners would turn Netteswell Hall into four flats and build 20 houses on the grounds.

In July this year they succeeded in their bid to remove their plans to include affordable housing in their application.

It was argued that the delivery of six social housing properties would be difficult.

Instead they applied to make a financial contribution of £180,000 which was approved.

The decision caused upset among locals, with one writing on the YourHarlow forum: “Corrupt decision.”

Another commented: “The planning system is broken and simply fills the pockets of speculative property developers.”

The Sun had contacted Davood for comment.

As well as his role on EastEnders, Davood came sixth on Strictly Come Dancing in 2017.

He played Kush on Albert Square from 2014 until 2021.

Davood went on to join the cast of Holby City as Eli Ebrahimi until the BBC cancelled the long-running hospital series in March this year.