Angry neighbours of a tech tycoon have slammed his “vanity project” to build a mega-basement beneath his £10 million mansion, claiming it will cause havoc in the area.
Peter Dubens, founder of Oakley Capital, wants to build a 7760 sq ft underground personal leisure and entertainment complex inside his Chelsea home.
The project will take up almost 50 per cent of the area under his garden, as well as two years to complete. It will feature a 'therapy room', bar, luxury cinema, wine cellar, two saunas and a top of the range golf simulator.
But some local residents have hit out at the plans, claiming they will bring “un-ending havoc and pollution.”
One resident said: “This is nothing more than one man's appalling vanity project.
“Mr Dubens clearly has absolutely no regard for the disruption his basement will cause. It is the epitome of opulence and arrogance. Why does one man need so much? He clearly doesn't care one jot about anyone else, nor the area in which he lives.
“But this is about far more than "NIMBY-ism". A development at this scale is entirely wrong for the area and does nothing for the public good.”
Another said: “The development and the excavation works of such an enormous scale will be detrimental to the community.
“The impact of increased levels of traffic, noise and dust pollution will be unbearable for the neighbourhood and will affect the quality of our lives on a daily basis over a long period of time.”
Another resident fumed: “Complete vanity project for rich people that give no thought to the lives of their neighbours. Totally unnecessary and ugly to boot.”
“The lives of residents will be hell,” the resident added, claiming their wall has been “damaged by endless trucks and movement and the balcony too”.
“ When other people are suffering at the moment it is unseemly and extravagant and not the way to live. There is no necessity for a cinema or play area.”
The planning application, which was unearthed by The Chelsea Citizen, is set to be considered by Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Council in June.
Locals claim when Mr Dubens last had works done, it took three years, and that damage was caused to cars as well as sewage pipes.
They also raised concerns about a Grade II Listed Tudor wall, dating from Henry VIII's manor house, that is part of the perimeter to the mansion's garden. However, developers have said the wall will not be harmed.
A spokesman for Mr Dubens said in a statement to the Citizen: “We make every effort to listen to the concerns of our neighbours. In the event that any development work does take place, it will be undertaken with due care and consideration, and in strict accordance with planning regulations.”
Peter Dubens is a British entrepreneur and investor renowned for his ventures in technology, media, and private equity.
In 2002, he established Oakley Capital, a private equity firm known for investments in companies such as Time Out, Pipex, and 365 Media Group.
Mr Dubens has been contacted by The Standard for comment.
