SEBASTIAN SHAKESPEARE: Chris Evans’s neighbours see red over his bid to make £2million by building new homes on the Green Belt land of his former country home
Evans bought a mansion in the Berkshire town of Ascot for £3.5 million in 2010
Radio 2 Breakfast Show presenter Chris Evans was earning £1.6 million a year at the BBC before he decided to jump ship to Virgin Radio for a reported £2 million.
Now he appears destined to enjoy a Christmas windfall of many millions thanks to a canny proposed property development in Ascot.
When, in 2010, Evans bought a nine-bedroom mansion in the Berkshire town for £3.5 million, he shrewdly retained ownership of his previous home, the neighbouring eight-bedroom Beechgrove, standing on nine acres of Green Belt land less than a mile from Ascot’s world-renowned race course.
It’s on this prime spot that developer Millgate has applied, with Evans’s agreement, for permission to demolish Beechgrove and, in its place, erect no fewer than 15 dwellings — ‘a building accommodating 12 apartments’, plus underground parking, and three detached houses, ‘with triple garages’.
While Evans might be commended for easing an acute housing shortage, the scheme fails to find unanimous favour with locals, with one objector categorising it as ‘a massive overdevelopment’.
The Society for the Protection of Ascot and Environs argues that it will ‘more than triple the volume of vehicle movements along [the lane]’, and Sunninghill and Ascot Parish Council describes the proposed flats as ‘inappropriate for Green Belt and out of character with surrounding properties’. Evans’s spokesman declined to comment.
At least the DJ won’t be bothered by building noise. The 52-year-old, now lives six miles north-east of Ascot in a third property with third wife Natasha Shishmanian, and no doubt hopes that Windsor & Maidenhead Council approves the plans in December.
Perhaps Evans will then sanction development at the other Ascot mansion, which he continues to own.
Former Radio 2 Breakfast Show presenter Evans was earning £1.6 million a year at the BBC before he decided to jump ship to Virgin Radio for a reported £2 million – being replaced by Zoe Ball (right)
Still some kinks to iron out for Ray and the lads…
The long-awaited reunion of The Kinks, paraded in public at the Q magazine awards, did not proceed altogether smoothly.
Sir Ray Davies declined to sit at a table with his brother Dave, with the feuding brothers entering from opposite sides of the stage when the Sixties combo were called up to receive their gong. Drummer Mick Avory, 74, who will be part of the mooted comeback, was baffled. ‘What was all that about?’ he asked afterwards.
Did Ray discuss future projects with the sticksman? ‘No, he just blanked me.’
Oh, dear.
Trolls keep up campaign at Kate’s club
Further unrest at the exclusive Hurlingham Club, favoured by the Duchess of Cambridge and her tennis-playing sister, Pippa, where a £22 million redevelopment project continues to provoke controversy.
Two months after chairman Julian Holloway hit out at members who set up an anonymous website dubbing him ‘Hurlingham’s most unpopular chairman’, club chief exec Alan Flitcroft has entered the fray.
‘An anonymous email has been doing the rounds denigrating some of the candidates for Main Committee,’ says Flitcroft, arguing that this is ‘unacceptable’ and beseeching members to treat ‘anonymous emails (or website posts) with the contempt they deserve and please do not forward them on to others’.
This, of course, was in an email sent — and anonymously forwarded — yesterday.
Why Corbyn’s diva deputy flounced out of gay bash
Labour deputy leader Tom Watson lived up to his heavyweight bruiser reputation on Wednesday night when he refused to comply with the dress code to gain admission to the PinkNews Awards in Westminster.
Arriving late at the event, which honours the work of LGBT activists and politicians, the 51-year-old was stopped by security at Church House because he declined to leave his coat in the cloakroom, as all other guests had to do.
Watson was due to give a speech with Olympic swimmer Mark Foster, following speeches by ex-PM Tony Blair, former Lib Dem leader Sir Nick Clegg, and his boss, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. ‘He arrived very late, after dinner was served, and wanted to come in wearing his coat,’ reports my insider.
‘But security told him he had to leave it in the cloakroom. He suddenly got really angry and stormed off. The organisers were very upset. It’s strange that he came to give a speech supporting the LGBT community only to leave just because he didn’t agree with the dress code.’
Watson’s spokeswoman confirmed they wouldn’t let him in with his coat, but tried to play down the incident, adding: ‘Security didn’t recognise him, which happens all the time now he is 7st lighter.’
Tom Watson refused to comply with the dress code to gain admission to the PinkNews Awards in Westminster on Wendesday
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Lady Brady pours on the bling for date with Lord Sugar
Baroness Brady of Knightsbridge clearly didn’t want anyone to forget she has a title when she went out on the town with her Apprentice co-star Lord Sugar.
Brady, 49, carried an Edie Parker clutch, which can cost up to £1,500, with the word ‘Lady’ emblazoned on one side and ‘Brady’ on the other. Brady and her husband Paul Peschisolido, who gave her the bag, were joining the Sugars for dinner at a West End club. On becoming Lady Brady, she styled herself ‘Lady Karren Brady’ on her Twitter account, not realising that only the daughters of dukes, marquesses and earls can append the style ‘lady’ to given names.
Lady Brady, who was ennobled by David Cameron in 2014, sported velour tracksuit bottoms, featuring a lurid blue stripe, worn with a black T-shirt and high heels.
Perhaps Sugar — aka My Sweet Lord — should tell her stylist: ‘You’re fired.’
Alan Sugar meeting Karen Brady at the members club Annabel’s in London on Wednesday night
Sam Cam’s sister in law finds her Forte
Hotelier Sir Rocco Forte’s daughter, Irene, seems to have inherited her father’s head for business.
The Oxford graduate, 29, reveals she’s launching an organic skincare line next month.
Keeping her friends close, she has hired her glamorous pal, Samantha Cameron’s sister-in-law and former model, Lohralee Astor (pictured), to become a face of the brand.
‘Very excited,’ gushes Astor, who is married to Sam Cam’s half-brother, William. ‘Women supporting women.’
Samantha Cameron’s sister-in-law and former model, Lohralee Astor (pictured) has become the new face of an organic skincare line
Actress Kate Beckinsale in a tight spot
Most women become modest in their sartorial choices as they grow older but actress Kate Beckinsale, 45, has gone the opposite way.
The brunette daughter of late Porridge actor Richard Beckinsale posted a picture of herself being tended to by her make-up artist Molly Stern as she put on a backless black jumpsuit which almost covered up her derriere.
‘Molly was so excited to find somewhere to park her bike at last,’ joked Kate.
Model and actress Cara Delevingne commented: ‘I should be there.’
And Kate fired back: ‘Get over here it’s a two-man job.’
Kate Beckinsale, 45, (right) posted a picture of herself being tended to by her make-up artist Molly Stern
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