A millionaire banker has won a ‘three-year’ battle with his local council over his glitzy glass roof terrace after an appeal ruled ‘all his neighbours already have one’. 

Dr Christopher Bremner was hauled into a planning row after being accused of installing the glass-and-metal roof terrace without obtaining listed building consent at his £3.2million maisonette apartment in Belgravia. 

Westminster City Council said the ‘unattractive’ alterations, including decking and glass balustrades ‘harmed the special architectural and historic interest’ of the Georgian residence and were ‘entirely unacceptable’.

Furious planners served him with an enforcement notice in June 2024, ordering the staircase, terrace and rooftop equipment to be removed within just four months.

But an independent planning inspector last month quashed the council’s case at an appeal – because so many multimillion-pound properties already boast rows of similar rooftop hideaways.

The sleek terrace which juts out an angle, is located in an exclusive Belgravia street where townhouses routinely sell for £10 million-plus. 

Inspector Simon Hand concluded: ‘The Council suggest [the terrace] is at odds with the historic building itself. 

‘That such a roof terrace is inherently out of place on a late Georgian building. 

This is the plush Belgravia roof terrace that sparked a furious row between a millionaire resident and his council 

The imposing glass structure can be seen hanging over the side of the million-pound mansion

Wealthy investment banker Dr Christopher Bremner argued vociferously that his roof terrace was no different to those owned by his well heeled neighbours 

Westminster City Council said the ‘unattractive’ alterations, including decking and glass balustrades ‘harmed the special architectural and historic interest’ of the area 

‘That argument has considerable merit, except that there do seem to be a large number of roof terraces on the street and roads around.

‘They can be seen in the photos attached to the [enforcement] notice, and I could see numerous examples as I walked the area. The appellant suggests eight at least have been given planning permission.’

He added: ‘I agree that discrete roof terraces are very much part of the fabric of the area and I find it difficult to identify any harm that is actually caused.’

The embarrassing loss for Westminster Council potentially paves the way for other roof terraces built without listed planning consent to dodge the threat of demolition.

Mr Bremner, who lives with artist wife Aida Emelyanovva and his twin daughters, on the exclusive street was defiant when approached by the Daily Mail.

The Australian banker, 61, accused council bosses of incompetence and said the enforcement action against him should never have been served.

He said: ‘It’s bull****. They threw drones over the place because there are so many public servants in this dump of a country which is being poisoned by bloated government.

‘And they just started attacking everyone that had something built.

‘Basically, when you hire millions of public servants you’re going to get lots of problems and nothing created and nothing built. That’s why this country is in ruins.’

The embarrassing loss for Westminster Council potentially paves the way for other roof terraces built without listed planning consent to dodge the threat of demolition

The sparkling terrace offers views out over Belgravia and indeed many other roof terraces 

When we visited the Belgravia enclave we saw examples of numerous other roof terraces 

Planning experts say the decision confirms what many wealthy homeowners already know: when you can’t build down, you build up.

Unlike basements, which can take years to excavate and cost tens of millions, a rooftop terrace can often be installed far more discreetly – and add enormous value.

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‘The mega-basement is effectively dead in prime central London’, said one planning expert.

‘Councils have become extremely hostile to them. Roof terraces, on the other hand, are emerging as the new gold rush.’

Dr Bremner claimed his roof terrace – modest by comparison to some neighbours – was built in 1993, but only came within the sights of council planners three years ago.

Westminster Council claimed in enforcement papers that the ‘modern design in the construction of the staircase and terraced area is at odds with the traditional materials and design’ of the early 19th-century residence and ‘visible in public views’.

But the Planning Inspectorate was quick to dismiss the case after Dr Bremner appealed.

Mr Hand said: ‘There is no real impact on the character of the area at all.’

He added: ‘No doubt from the upper floors of neighbouring buildings the terrace is more visible but that doesn’t make it harmful, especially as it seems to be set back from the front edge of the roof.

‘The best views would be from the other roof terraces in the area.’

Planning experts have claimed that roof terraces have become the new must have accessory due to the difficulties of installing ‘mega-basements’ 

Harley Street cosmetic surgeon Yannis Alexandrides installed a sleek metal pergola on the roof terrace of his family’s three-storey townhouse (pictured) in one of London’s most prestigious neighbourhoods

Pictured: Images of the street before and after the pergola was installed 

Dr Yannis, 58, and wife Eva, 50, (pictured) paid for the structure to enjoy sunset views from the comfort of their architect-designed home in one of the capital’s most affluent streets

As many of the capital’s most exclusive regency properties are listed, or fall in conversation areas, owners and occupants often must apply for listed building consent to carry out even minor renovations and extensions.

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EXCLUSIVE

Millionaire doctor at war with council after building luxury roof terrace on his £7m townhouse

Authorities have taking enforcement action against others who have built on top of their period properties.

The Daily Mail revealed last month how Harley Street plastic surgeon Yannis Alexandrides had been ordered to demolish a luxury rooftop structure on his £6.7million Chelsea townhouse.

The cosmetic guru – whose cult skincare brand 111Skin is a celebrity favourite – installed a sleek metal pergola on the roof terrace of his family’s three-storey townhouse in south Kensington.

Council officials said the turret-like structure had been erected without planning permission and was ‘jarring’ against the elegant terraces of exclusive SW3.

Dr Yannis, who counts Margot Robbie, Victoria Beckham and Kim Kardashian as fans of his skincare brand, was handed six months to tear down the structure after losing an appeal.