James May has shown he’s the considerate and thoughtful one off screen by addressing neighbours’ concerns over his proposed £3 million home.
The former Top Gear star wants to demolish the property he’s lived in for 15 years as well as the derelict workshop next door, replacing the properties with a flash new pad.
But instead of going ahead and submitting plans to the council, he decided to prepare everything first and discuss it with residents nearby.
In November, May wrote a letter to all of his neighbours in Hammersmith, inviting them along to a two-hour consultation meeting.
The event featured displays of the proposed home with the designer on hand to answer any questions about the construction, materials and timing.
Two neighbours addressed concerns about the proposal’s fenestration and overlooking.
In a letter recently submitted to Hammersmith and Fulham Council, May said “in the spirit of true consultation”, all of the issues were addressed before submitting a formal application.
On the ground floor of the petrolhead’s proposed home, there will be an entertaining space and a garage to house his limited-edition Ferrari 458 Speciale.
On the first floor will be three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a library and large study.
May, a multi-millionaire following after signing a bumper deal with Amazon, bought the modestly-sized London home for £325,000 in 2000, a couple of years before he joined Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond on Top Gear.
He has previously said he chose the house “because it has a garage”.
In 2011 May paid £310,000 for the property next door which has housed his extensive collection of old motorbikes.
