Not in my millionaires' playground! Capita founder and his wife lead revolt ... trends now

The founder of Capita and his wife are leading objections by over 30 of their neighbours in a 'Millionaire's Playground' in Surrey against plans for two mansions by luxury developers.

Sir Rod Aldridge and Lady Carol Aldridge have called for the local council to refuse the 'unacceptable' plans for two five-bedroom houses.

They are joined by the Managing Director of Goldman Sachs and a charity boss in opposing the plans, on an estate where homes are owned by sports stars such as Tennis ace Andy Murray and former Crystal Palace captain Scott Dann.

The proposals would see an existing house and garden pool building in the leafy Oxshott estate demolished to make way for two new buildings, planning documents show.

Both proposed houses would include double garages, indoor gyms, drawing rooms and libraries, plans submitted by Andrew Long of Iconic Architectural Design on behalf of the owners show. 

Sir Rod and Lady Carol have submitted a formal objection to the plans through development consultancy Alsop Verrill.

Their objection, submitted on March 15, reads: 'The erection of two large detached houses on the plot is discordant with the character and appearance of the estate.

'The excessive sizes of the two houses proposed relative to the resultant plot sizes will have a profoundly adverse effect upon the character and appearance of the area.

'We note that 32 objection to the development proposed have already been submitted to the local planning authority along broadly similar lines. There can be no good reason not to issue a decision notice refusing the grant of planning permission.'

Land registry documents show the plot is owned by Hassan Maki Al Saffar and Juman Al Saffar, who purchased the property for £2,975,000 on September 14 2018.

The Al Saffars are listed as directors of H & H Properties (UK) Ltd, a Dundee waterfront luxury housing developer.

Sir Rod and Lady Carol added in their objection: 'It is noted that Mr and Mrs Al Saffar do not live at [the address], but elsewhere in Oxshott. It would not be unreasonable to believe that as they…live elsewhere that they are speculative developers.'

The Alridges also claimed the Al Saffars had not implemented a previous planning permission they had been granted in November 2021 for a gated, detached two-storey house featuring a garage.