Top Boy's Ashley Walters in planning row to build pool, gym and cinema in garden

14 December 2023 , 09:05

784     0

Ashley Walters admits he might move from Kent bungalow over 'frustrating' planning row

Top Boy actor Ashley Walters has spoken out about a planning permission row over hopes to extend his Kent family home.

The 41-year-old, best known for playing drug kingpin Dushane on the Netflix crime drama, has been living in a bungalow near Herne Bay now for two years with his wife, Danielle, and their two daughters. Ashley has been intending to expand the seaside property by adding a swimming pool, a cinema and a gym, but with two council applications to have the adjustments made already rejected, he has now said he may move to another home.

Speaking about the issue, So Solid Crew member said: “It’s highly likely that if we can't get it the way we want to, we'll have to move out of this part of Kent. I'm a big fan of Kent and this part of it.

Danielle Isaie and Ashley Walters have been married since 2013 (Brett D. Cove / SplashNews.com)

Ashley Walters has said he might move if his planning permission request is denied again (REX/Shutterstock)

"Our kids are settled in school here, so it's not like we'll be going back to London. We would just have to find somewhere else locally that suits our needs." The father-of-eight also addressed the planning battle in an interview with Louis Theroux which aired on BBC Two on Tuesday night, after the British journalist questioned him about it in his garden.

"We’ve appealed and we are going to try to go to committee," Ashley explained. "And, I guess after that, it’s moving really.” Louis then joked: “I thought you were going to say something else.” Walters, who went to prison in 2002 for 18 months after carrying a loaded pistol, laughed and replied, "No, not anymore - I’m a changed man."

Bank of Dave self-made millionaire giving away money to 'keep kids working hard'

The planning applications, which were submitted in March and May this year, have requested two-storey front and rear extensions, as well as a balcony to the rear. Ashley, who according to Rightmove bought the home in 2021 for £815,000, said: “I think the planned design of the property we want to build doesn't fit in with what they'd like for the street view.”

But he is annoyed by the fact that the city council recently approved 160 new homes on farmland opposite his house, despite objections from neighbours. "It is frustrating knowing that the area is forever changing,” he said. "There's a lot of properties being built up across the road, which is going to change the street view for good anyway."

Despite having two applications rejected, Ashley insisted he has had “good communication” with the city council and has followed “all the proper procedures”. He also explained that the swimming pool and "stuff in the back" is not what's being contested. "It’s the main property. It would all be permitted by planning because of the size of the buildings and where it's situated." The Bulletproof has also explained that he wants to make the ceilings of the bungalow higher to accommodate his young daughters, Amaiya-Love and River, getting taller.

On refusing the changes to the house, city council officers said: “The resulting dwelling would be an overly prominent form of development relating poorly to the small-scale character of the neighbours.

“The proposed extensions relate poorly with the existing property and as such the overall development would fail to have sufficient regard for the context and character of the site.”

Council communications officer Robert Davies added: “The most recent application was refused on the grounds that its scale, form, design, appearance and prominence would relate poorly to the design of the existing building and would appear as an incongruous addition to the host property.

“It would also harm the visual quality of the street scene and the character and appearance of the area contrary to policies DBE3 and DBE6 of the Canterbury District Local Plan 2017 and Paragraph 130 of the National Planning Policy Framework. The applicant has appealed this decision as is their right and this matter will now be considered by the independent Planning Inspectorate."

Emma Dooney