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Former supermodel Claudia Schiffer loses planning battle with neighbour over view from Tudor mansion

Claudia Schiffer is seen outside a tribute to Karl Lagerfeld at Grand Palais, during Paris Fashion Week - Edward Berthelot/Getty Images Europe
Claudia Schiffer is seen outside a tribute to Karl Lagerfeld at Grand Palais, during Paris Fashion Week - Edward Berthelot/Getty Images Europe

Claudia Schiffer has lost her battle for the second time against her neighbour who wants to build a 'suburban villa' that would spoil the view across her estate.

The supermodel and her film-director husband Matthew Vaughn – who produced hit film Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels – had complained their home, Grade I-listed Coldham Hall in Stanningfield built in 1574, would be "adversely impacted" by their neighbour's "oversized" extension, which they said would look like a "suburban villa".

But they lost the planning dispute last October and neighbour Hanne Pilo – believed to be related to the former owner of their estate, multimillionaire Danish businessman Jens Pilo – was given the go-ahead to build a two-storey side and rear extension on Grade II-listed Coldham Hall Cottage and demolish an outbuilding and replace it with garages.

Ms Schiffer and Mr Vaughan, who have lived in their 14-bedroom Tudor mansion for 17 years and said the large extension to the semi-bungalow would spoil their views across their 530-acre estate, challenged the planning permission ruling in the High Court in January and won.

Coldham Hall Cottage in Suffolk, which is where the building work will take place - Bav Media
Coldham Hall Cottage in Suffolk, which is where the building work will take place - Bav Media

Ms Pilo's planning permission and listed building consent were overruled and she requested to resubmit a new application.

West Suffolk Council on Thursday approved her new application and said the extension can go ahead.

It comes after Ms Schiffer and Mr Vaughan raised concerns about the effect of the extension on their listed home and said there should have been a heritage statement and a listed-building application.

In a letter to the council they said: "The farmstead/semi-agricultural context in which these listed buildings are experienced would be substantially eroded by the large and inappropriate footprint, bulk, scale and mass of the proposals by making the existing bungalow appear more akin to a suburban villa than a straightforward and subservient farm worker's dwelling."

But planning officers concluded that the cottage was not curtilage listed and would not impact "on the character of the surrounding area."

Curtilage listing is where buildings, structures or objects are 'deemed' to be listed by virtue of being within the curtilage of a listed building. Curtilage listed structures are afforded the same protection and restrictions imposed as a listed building with its own listing entry.

Coldham Hall ,the home of Claudia Schiffer in Suffolk - Bav Media
Coldham Hall ,the home of Claudia Schiffer in Suffolk - Bav Media

The planning officers wrote: "Contrary to the image provided, views of the proposed extension and outbuilding range, mainly their roofs, will be limited, appearing as an extension to an existing building located in the background and dwarfed and partially screened by the significantly larger development located in the foreground.

"Consequently, whilst the proposed development may be visible from both the public footpath and private path leading to the Hall, Officers do not consider that it will affect significant views or important gaps which contribute towards the setting of the Hall.

"Similarly, seen in context with, and partially screened by, existing development, Officers do not consider the proposed extensions, including the outbuilding, would have a negative impact on the ability to appreciate the significance of the Hall."

Coldham Hall, pictured top left, the home of Claudia Schiffer and Coldham Hall Cottage, middle right, in Suffolk - Bav Media
Coldham Hall, pictured top left, the home of Claudia Schiffer and Coldham Hall Cottage, middle right, in Suffolk - Bav Media

They said views of the proposed extension would be "very limited" on approach to the hall and added: "The orientation of Coldham Hall Cottage and its distance from the Hall, together with the presence of mature planting and a number of substantial buildings of a lower listing, inhibit visible connectivity between the Hall and the Cottage and its proposed extension."

The officers said the Cottage was located within a "generous curtilage" which was able to "accommodate the scale of side and rear extension and outbuildings without overdevelopment occurring."

The said that in conclusion: "The principle and details of the development is considered to be acceptable and in compliance with the relevant development plan policies and the National Planning Policy Framework (2020).

"It is concluded that the dwelling is not curtilage listed and therefore, does not require a listed building application. It is also considered to respect the adjacent listed buildings historic character and amenity and would not result in an impact on the character of the surrounding area."

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Schiffer and Vaughan are believed to have originally paid roughly £7.5 million for their 14-bedroom Tudor mansion, where they now live full-time with their three children. The Grade I-listed building was built in 1574 and was once home to one of the Gunpowder Plot conspirators of 1605.

The house is built in the shape of an 'H' in honour of King Henry VIII. It is believed to have been given its name after Queen Elizabeth I, who was not amused after she was served cold ham there christened it Coldham Hall.