Couple who painted 2.6million Islington townhouse black are ordered to repaint it white after furious neighbours complain

"A couple who painted their Grade II-listed townhouse black have been ordered to repaint it white after neighbours complained the colour clashed with the surrounding Victorian and Regency homes. The couple live on Gibson Square in Islington, one of London's most sought-after addresses, where similar townhouses sell for around 2.6 million. The white render, known as stucco, white frames, cornices, architraves, entrance steps and the basement lightwell were all painted a dark colour."

"One neighbour told the Daily Mail: I don't know why they held out so long. It was a very jarring colour choice and not in keeping with the area. She said she had been so upset by the repainting that she avoided meeting her neighbours. A source close to the Curtins told the Mail: They knew it was a listed area, so weren't blind to the risk however they didn't damage the brickwork and noticed that several other houses along the square had made amendments."

"In his ruling, council inspector Ahsan Ghafoor said: The alterations result in an aesthetic that is at odds with the special architectural interest of the listed building, given the nature and scale of the work. The alteration has a visually detrimental effect on the external appearance of the listed building and block, and are at odds with the architectural and historic interest of the conservation area. He added that the repainting draws the naked eye and is markedly different from surrounding properties."

A Grade II-listed townhouse on Gibson Square in Islington was painted black, covering white stucco, frames, cornices, architraves, entrance steps and the basement lightwell. Neighbours complained that the dark colour clashed with surrounding Victorian and Regency homes and caused distress. Council documents show only one formal complaint, while some residents expressed sympathy and noted other houses with grey frontages. A council inspector ruled the alterations produced an aesthetic at odds with the listed building's special architectural interest and the conservation area's historic character. The homeowner denied breaching listed building regulations and argued the renovation did not damage historic value.

Read at www.standard.co.uk