Friday 5 August 2022 02:19 PM Anton Du Beke now has more room to dance after winning battle to extend ... trends now
Anton Du Beke is to get more floorspace to practice his famous dance moves after finally winning a planning battle to extend his £1.8million home.
The Strictly Come Dancing judge has been given consent for a major revamp to his Arts and Crafts-style house as long as the work does not disturb any bats.
The plans involve building a single storey extension, creating an open plan kitchen and living area flooded with light from lantern windows in a flat roof.
The extension will allow his existing kitchen and dining room to be converted into a ‘rumpus’ area and play room with an additional family room at his 1930s home in a Buckinghamshire village.
A permitted loft conversion will also help him keep in shape with a new gym and games room, and to relax in an entertainment suite with a home cinema.
Du Beke, 56, had originally applied in February to build a part single and part two-storey extension to his five-bedroom home.
The planning application which did not attract any objections from neighbours was the first to be submitted by Du Beke since he bought his home five-years-ago
A loft conversion (pictured) will enable Du Beke to keep in shape with a new gym and games room, and to relax in an entertainment suite with a home cinema
Du Beke's approved plans will feature an open plan kitchen and living area flooded with light. Pictured: The ground floor plans for his Buckinghamshire home
The dancer initially applied to build a part single and part two-storey extension in February but withdrew his application after being warned it would likely be refused
The Strictly judge has been given consent for a major revamp as long as the work does not disturb any bats
But he withdrew his application after a planning officer said the house had undergone ‘significant’ previous additions and warned that the proposed scheme would be refused.
Du Beke then submitted revised plans for only a single storey kitchen extension with changes to doors and windows, taking out a proposed dressing room extension above.
Buckinghamshire Council approved the amended plans to extend the living space which he shares with wife Hannah, and their five-year-old twins and two pet Dachshunds.
Du Beke filmed himself repeatedly dancing around his home, sometimes in top hat and tails for social media posts to keep up the spirit of his fans during Covid lockdowns.
Now the new extension of the house will give him even more space to dance around.
His planning agent made out the case for the extension in accompanying paperwork submitted to the council, saying that it should be allowed under Green Belt policies.
The agent said: ‘This Arts & Crafts style detached character house is worthy of consent to modernise.
‘In the past 60 years it has not kept pace with essential vital modern facilities. It needs insulation, heating, double glazing, a utility room to house modern family facilities, kitchen and dining area that provide more efficient facilities necessary to serve a large family.
‘In this case the proposed extensions are a measured small scale response to a pressing need to bring a quality residence into the 21st century.
‘It is vital that the historic architectural style is maintained and no changes are planned to the front and north elevations. The west and south are screened or face onto the rear open space.’
The agent warned against what he described as the use of
