A Controversial Pergola and the Legal Battle Over a Luxury Property
A high-profile legal dispute has emerged in London’s exclusive Chelsea area, involving a luxury property owned by the founders of a celebrity skincare brand. The couple, Dr Yannis Alexandridis and his wife Eva, have been ordered to remove an unauthorized structure they built on the roof of their £5 million home. The issue centers around a large pergola that was constructed without proper planning permission.
The Unauthorized Structure
The Alexandridises, who are the co-founders of 111Skin — a successful skincare brand with notable clients including Lady Gaga, Harry Styles, and Priyanka Chopra — built a steel-framed pergola on the roof terrace of their four-storey house on Sloane Avenue. The structure, which spans 100 square meters, was erected in September 2022. They also modified the existing rooftop space by replacing its glazing, framing, and fascia to match the pergola’s grey steel finish.
The couple argued that the pergola was designed to be “no higher than the existing roof access structure” and would not “intentionally dominate the roof.” They described it as “quirky” and “slightly unusual,” claiming it would “enhance the usability of the existing roof terrace.”
Despite being 10 feet tall, they insisted the structure would have a “minimal visual impact from street level and neighboring properties.” The pergola, which included a retractable sunroof, was described as “visually unobtrusive” with a minimalist metal frame that complements the existing architecture.
Council Backlash and Planning Issues
However, the structure sparked a backlash from the local council when the couple applied for retrospective planning permission in June 2024. This process is used when a structure is already in place and requires approval after the fact.
It was later revealed that the pergola was actually composed of three separate units across the entire roof terrace. These structures were visible from across most of the borough, dominating the skyline in one of Britain’s most expensive and protected postcodes.
Plans showed that the roof top towered over neighboring properties, and when the sunroof was closed, it blocked sunlight onto nearby homes. The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea deemed the pergola “incongruous,” “very prominent,” and “jarring” within the Chelsea Conservation Area.
In September 2024, the council ordered the couple to tear down the structure within three months. However, Dr Alexandridis, a well-known Harley Street plastic surgeon, launched a detailed appeal against the decision.
The Appeal and Final Decision
In a 21-page appeal letter, Dr Alexandridis criticized the council’s ruling as “inadequately drafted” and offered to modify the structure by removing the section overlooking Sloane Avenue and adding fencing at the front and rear of the property. He claimed these changes would “remedy the harm caused.”
However, the appeal was rejected, as the modifications were deemed insufficient and potentially harmful to the area. Andy Harwood, the Planning Inspector for Kensington and Chelsea, stated that even though the blinds were open during his visit, the pergola was still “very prominent and jarring.”
The council added that the pergola was significantly larger and bulkier than the previous structure and would be “an incongruous addition” that would fail to preserve the appearance of the building and its roofline. It also noted that the structure would negatively impact public and private views from the street and upper-floor windows of surrounding properties, violating Local Plan policies.
Deadline for Removal
The Alexandridises now have until June 17 to remove the structure. The case highlights the challenges of balancing personal property rights with the preservation of historic and protected areas. As the legal battle continues, the outcome could set a precedent for future developments in similar neighborhoods.
