Seven-time Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton wins battle to chop down tree outside £18m Kensington mansion

By Hannah Neary, Local Democracy Reporter

Lewis Hamilton has won a battle to chop down a “beautiful” tree outside his £18million Kensington mansion, despite neighbours objecting to the destruction.

The seven-times Formula One world champion has been given permission to cut down a sugarplum tree outside his home, in Pembroke Road, which he reportedly bought five years ago.

Some of his plans for the property have sparked anger among neighbours, including artist David Hockney, whose studio is nearby.

Kensington and Chelsea council has now given the British champion permission to chop down an Amelanchier tree, also known as a sugarplum tree, and trim back a magnolia by two metres. A report by Hamilton’s tree surgeon said the sugarplum is mostly dead and dying.

A letter from one neighbour said: “These trees are in a conservation area and their removal will be detrimental to Kensington and London in general, which is suffering from increasingly worse air quality.

“I strongly advise the council to reject this frivolous application, which is without merit.”

Another wrote: “I strongly object to the felling of the beautiful amelanchie and pruning of the magnolia grandiflor.

“London, Kensington included, is suffering from bad air quality, which has been deteriorating for years.

“I frequently visit and bike through this area, which remains one of the nicest in London.

“Removal of trees like these can only be to the detriment of the area.

Plans to demolish and replace an old summer house in Hamilton’s back garden sparked fury among residents in 2020.

The Victorian house has a 61-metre garden at the back and a private drive way.

Metal gates and a wall were built outside the property last year to “improve the character and privacy of the building”, a planning report said. 

Mr Hamilton previously won permission to trim back a horse chestnut tree, with the support of a neighbour who said it was attracting pigeons who pooed in their garden.

They wrote to the council: “We are very much in favour of this application.

“Could as many as possible of the horizontal branches, that hang over our property, be pruned back?

“The pigeon droppings in that corner can be a nuisance.”