The 68 year old property developer who painted her £15 million Kensington townhouse with red and white stripes, has promised to paint it white if Kensington and Chelsea council stops a ‘monstrosity’ being built nearby.
The stripy house described by neighbours as a ‘beach hut’, ‘circus tent’ and a ‘stick of rock’ made headlines last year, when Zipporah Lisle- Mainwaring, was ordered to repaint her house white, after her neighbours dubbed it an eyesore.
She was accused of painting her property in the conservation area of Kensington Square to ‘get her own back’ on neighbours who opposed her plans to demolish the house and dig a huge basement beneath the property.
She lost this battle in December, against a 215 notice demanding she repaint it in a ‘more suitable manner’. However, yesterday she stated she will be appealing the decision.
Giving them an ultimatum, she told the Evening Standard that she would only comply if they put a stop to a project to a nearby project on Young Street that will see a carpark and office space converted into flats.
She accused the council of breaching planning regulations stating: ‘if the council does not build the monstrosity it has started building in Kensington Square I will paint the house white or any colour they want’.
If they refuse, she will continue her ongoing appeal to the crown court saying that she will continue ‘until she gets bored’
‘I very much doubt the crown court is the last stage, but it depends – I might get bored, or I might paint it an entirely different colour’
However the council still stand by their decision with district judge Susan Baines ruled that the house’s new colours ‘had an adverse effect on the amenity of the area’ as it is not consistent with the neighbourhood.
'She should have been aware of the nature of the area and it was incumbent upon her to paint the property in a similar manner to other properties’.
A spokesperson for Kensington and Chelsea council stated that the proposed development on Young Street included affordable housing and will be of ‘significant public benefit’.
He also stated that he would not comment on the Young Street car park development in relation to the repainting of the house as the two ‘are not related in any way’.