Hollywood’s Rafe Spall risks clash with famous neighbour with £5m home renovation after split with Hollyoaks star wife
ACTOR Rafe Spall has unveiled plans for a Grand Designs-style makeover of his £5million London home – complete with his own dressing room.
The son of Auf Widersehen Pet star Timothy is splashing out on a love nest to share with new girlfriend and on-screen wife Esther Smith.
Rafe and Esther, who play Jason and Nikki in Apple TV+ series Trying, went public with their relationship last year after he split from his ex-Hollyoaks star wife Elize du Toit.
Now he wants to turn his new three-bedroom home – which is next door to Boy George’s posh pad – into a five-bedroom pad and demolish an existing conservatory.
He wants to replace it with a flat roof extension and build a ground floor reception balcony and new external spiral staircase to the garden of his four-storey home.
The Hot Stuff star says the existing conservatory is too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter.
He has applied for planning permission to tear down the ‘extremely inefficient’ and ‘dilapidated’ structure.
But he could face a battle with neighbours and officials at the local council as the property lies in a designated conservation area.
In a design statement, his planning agent said: “The proposed works will have no impact on the street scene, as neither of the proposed aspects can be seen from [the road].
“The design and features of the dwelling are to be maintained with the removal of the rear conservatory which is unusable in certain parts of the year due to the nature of its construction – too hot in the summer, too cold in the winter.
“The proposals are sympathetic to the conservation area and have no impact on the street scene. The new small balcony will be in keeping with the balcony at the adjacent property.”
Rafe, 40, married former Hollyoaks cast member Elize du Toit in 2010 before moving with her to the Cotswolds in 2019.
They share children Lena, 12, Rex, 11, and another seven-year-old son but separated in 2021 after 12 years.
Spall has formally applied for planning permission for single storey rear and side extensions at his new home.
As part of the plans, there will be a new first-floor master bedroom, dressing room and study, and a basement kitchen.
Planners at the local council are expected to make a decision later this month and there have so far been no objections from neighbours.
If permission is granted, building work is expected to start within days and be completed by Christmas.
Other famous residents who live nearby include Dua Lipa, actress Helena Bonham-Carter, and comedian Frank Skinner.