Blair's home plans upset new neighbour

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

But not, it seems, for one resident of Connaught Square, who has formally objected to the council about building work that Tony and Cherie Blair intend to carry out on their £3.65million London townhouse.

Retirement home: the Blairs' plans to renovate their Connaught Square property have attracted complaints

On May 3, the day Labour is bracing itself for an anti-Blair backlash in the local council elections, the Prime Minister will have

one eye on a planning meeting of Westminster City Council, where a rather more parochial battle will be won and lost.

The unnamed neighbour has objected to the Blairs' plans to install CCTV cameras and solar panels, on the grounds that they would ruin the look of the Grade II-listed terrace.

He or she has also complained about the Blairs' plans to build a roof terrace-on an extension at the back of the property, which would overlook the small courtyard gardens of neighbouring properties.

If the objections are upheld by the council, the Blairs could be forced to abandon plans to move into Connaught Square when the Prime Minister leaves Downing Street in the summer, as the CCTV cameras, in particular, are an essential part of their security arrangements. If they were not allowed to install the cameras, Mr Blair's police protection officers would almost certainly veto the move.

Ominously, the six-man sub-committee which will rule on the Blairs' house plans includes five Conservatives.

However, a leaked council memo obtained by online diarist and former Tory parliamentary candidate Iain Dale suggests that the objections will be thrown out at next week's planning meeting.