Morning:
8°c
Saudi royals win approval for £50m ‘super-home’ in Belgravia
Mark Blunden1 Jun 2009
Saudi royals are planning a hi-tech "super-home" worth up to £50million by knocking together three houses in Belgravia.
The 20-bedroom project includes digging to build two storeys underground to create an indoor pool, communications room, servants' bedrooms, limousine-sized garages and dumb waiter.
Plans for the 50-room house also include a security station, gym and large strong room for valuables.
It will be one of the biggest homes of its kind in central London, estimated at more than 12,000 square feet.
The house was formerly occupied by Saudi Arabia's ambassador to Britain and the grandson of the kingdom's founder, Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud, 56, his wife, Princess Fadwa bint Khaled bin Abdallah Al-Saud, and their children.
The new owner is believed to be another high-ranking Saudi prince.
Two mews houses will be demolished and linked via underground rooms to a freshly renovated Grade-II listed five-storey Regency house in the terrace behind. It will become a "single family dwelling". The vacant site is owned by Eatonfields, a Guernsey-based property holding company which bought all three properties in 2005 for just under £4.4million.
The street is a 10-minute walk from the Saudi embassy in Mayfair.
A spokesman confirmed that the ambassador lived there but said the new occupier was "very private" and would not comment on their plans.
Neighbours told Westminster council the house was too big and would block out light and overlook bedrooms, but the scheme was given the go-ahead last week after being scaled back.
One resident, who asked not to be named, said: "They've toned things down a little bit but they are riding roughshod over everybody with the sheer size of it."
English Heritage gave its approval because the building was already "much altered".
Reader views (20)
king of the robber barons. that is until he gives me a million: top up on my expenses. then he good king.
- Iris, london, 02/06/2009 21:51
Report abuse
They are keeping to the plans, restoring it to Grade 2 and it once again shows that London prime real estate is a jewel in the crown for many wealthy individuals. They are clever for buying it so cheaply and they have funds to renovate so good luck to them - whether they are Arab, Indian, Russian or Chinese, that is not important.
- Ketan, London, England, 02/06/2009 08:23
Report abuse
The Blair's have similar space if I recall correctly.
Next will be the push for the building to be declared sovereign ground and Sharia law will preside. Then they can safely employ their "domestic help" (slaves) without any interference
- Trunk, US, 02/06/2009 04:25
Report abuse
i am in Riyadh and i cant offer to buy home and thous theft royal family from alsaud building super homes every where ,sham on you England dealing with thous dectatores .
- Mohammed, riyadh,saudi arabia, 01/06/2009 19:48
Report abuse
Such type of luxrious life is not permited in Islam. It is absoultely against Islam values.I was there 20 years.Not only myself lot of the overseas have spoil their life.Impossible to get the social status there.No property no business without Saudi partnership. About 40% of the total population living very poor condition.Lot of human rights and labour law violation.Unemployment is there. Life like prision for foreigners. Saudi dont like to work under saudi in private sectors. About 90% of the local peoples are greedy during Hajj and Umrah season, looting the pilgrimage be both hand.Cheating in the name of Islam.Foreigner children are not allowed to get admission in local Universities.
Few of the Royal families members are enjoying different life style. "Easy come easy go."
- M A Chishty, London, 01/06/2009 19:03
Report abuse
you are looking at your next prime minister.
- Boludo, london, 01/06/2009 15:40
Report abuse
the new owners of britain?
- Beljamine, uk, 01/06/2009 15:03
Report abuse
Saudi Arabia, where the display of the crucifix or other Christian religious symbols is banned.
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 01/06/2009 13:59
Report abuse
Riding roughshod over the locals well, thats to be expected in sucking up to the Saudi so called Royalty. No one else would have been granted planning permission.
T H Leeds
- Thomas Hayes, Leeds UK, 01/06/2009 13:53
Report abuse
OK, I know this has turned into a big 'us verses them' row, but I'm a little confused.
If the main houses aren't being dramatically altered above ground, how will it adversely affect the neighbours? So what if they have an underground pool & servants quarters? And surely an underground garage keeps their vehicles off the roads, thus leaving them clearer for everyone else?
Mike in Surrey, where I live we all pay our own water and electricity bills - do you have a communal electricity charge in Surrey?
If people don't like the Saudi Royals fine, but surely that's a different argument to this one about a house...
- John, London, 01/06/2009 13:49
Report abuse
I think it perfectly logical and politically correct that when a country (UK)(+western democracies) need another country (Saudia)+other feudal states, then they should be happy to allow whatever the Saudis require and the british (and all other western democracies) should lean forward - or backwards - and do the right thing and give the Saudis everything, including cancelling Xmas and all other non islamic festivals. Oh Robin of Sherwood, why have you deserted us ? I can even visualise
Arnie Schwartzeneger putting on a pair of ballet shoes and dancing to a local tambourine ... with Darling playing a flute harmoniously...while repaying his debts..
- David Goldstone, London, 01/06/2009 13:09
Report abuse
To C Harrison. Having just had a £20m banker's house near me in Surrey, lasting 5 years, yes indeed they use public services and dump costs on us taxpayers. Roads have been wrecked and full of potholes costing Surrey CC £100ks to repair. So much waste has been ripped out it probably filled 1 local auth land fill site on its own. The water and energy used in such major reconstructions is huge. And the entire surrounding area will be ruined for other residents for several years.
We also have a water crisis in the south east and these underground pools all consumer energy water etc etc all of which we end up paying for.
If you are happy with all this, I can only assume you are a builder or an architect who will make on such projects.
In most other countries property taxes are based upon a straight line according to value. If the house is worth £50 you pay a pittance, if it is worth £50m you pay more like £100k pa. Rather like income tax, eh!!!!
- Mike, Surrey, 01/06/2009 12:57
Report abuse
I lived in Jeddah whilst reaching in Saudi Arabia. It is a fact that women are not treated with respect and and are still prohibited from even driving a car. Although girls receive a basic education it is really nothing more than religious indoctrination - the thought of learning about other religions is ludicrous. The Saudi royal family rule the country upon a medieval basis and keep all the oil revenues in Swiss banks. It came as no surprise that the majority of the terrorists involved in the attack on New York on September 11 were Saudi nationals.
- Bruce, London, 01/06/2009 12:22
Report abuse
It's strange how determined the Saudis are to live here, especially when you consider that their Islamic schools in London still have books likening Westerners to dogs, pigs and monkeys.
- Kate, London, 01/06/2009 12:09
Report abuse
These Saudi royals disgust me! Always squandering money around the world while their people live in poverty. They strut around Knightsbridge and Mayfair like they own the place. I cannot stand them!
- Anthony, London, 01/06/2009 11:35
Report abuse
Having lived in Saudi Arabia for a number of years I would point out that British people are not allowed to own property there and that if they engage in a commercial enterprise, majority ownership must be handed to Saudi nationals. Also, a little known fact; if you die there, your Western body is not allowed to be buried there and pollute the sacred sands of Saudi Arabia.
- Fred, Horsham, 01/06/2009 11:09
Report abuse
To Mike, Surrey
Apart from having their bins emptied, do you think the Saudi prince and his family will make much use of the local council services? Will Westminster have to call in social services every week, or will the prince just borrow lots of library books?
- C Harrison, London, 01/06/2009 10:27
Report abuse
Simon,
what you just said about girls not going to school is not true. Girls go to school and some recent statistics I've seen it by myself states that girls are approaching the number of boys and it is expected that the girls will eventually exceed the number of males students in few years. But the problem with these princes is that they are squandering money while the majority of the people in Saudi Arabia barely are able to feed their kids! what a life!
- Ali, qatif,saudi arabia, 01/06/2009 10:08
Report abuse
Nice to see that the Saudi royals are happily squandering money on luxury houses whilst girls are not even allowed to go to school in their own country.
- Simon Ellis, London NW2, 01/06/2009 09:13
Report abuse
this respresents all that is bad about britain....if you have money...your voice over-rides those who have not....roll on the revolution.
- L H Simpson, farnborough, hampshire, 01/06/2009 08:49
Report abuse
