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Netflix star and Top Boy actor Ashley Walters submits new plans to extend Kent home

05:00, 18 June 2024

updated: 12:29, 18 June 2024

Netflix star Ashley Walters has launched a third bid to extend his family home in Kent after two previous proposals were rejected.

The Top Boy actor, who lives near Herne Bay, has been battling with Canterbury City Council to have his vision for the chalet bungalow approved.

Ashley Walters previously spoke about life on the Kent coast. Picture: Instagram
Ashley Walters previously spoke about life on the Kent coast. Picture: Instagram

The dad-of-eight, who plays drug kingpin Dushane in the hit drama, has already had two applications turned down, with an appeal against the most recent refusal dismissed by a planning inspector earlier this year.

Mr Walters, 41, had told KentOnline he would consider moving if the decision went against him, but it appears he has no intention of throwing in the towel just yet.

Because a fresh application to extend the property has been submitted to CCC

Papers show the former rapper still intends to expand the front and rear of the bungalow, but the scale of the development appears to have reduced.

Fresh drawings by a new architect reveal significant changes to the previous designs, which were submitted last year and in 2022.

Top Boy star Ashley Walters has submitted another planning application to extend his home. Picture: Instagram
Top Boy star Ashley Walters has submitted another planning application to extend his home. Picture: Instagram

Speaking at his home in December, Mr Walters told KentOnline he wanted to extend the property as his two daughters are getting taller.

“It is about making it slightly bigger in height because it's a bungalow conversion,” he said.

“The top floor is essentially in the roof, which means you are kind of ducking.

“As the kids grow they will be banging heads on the ceiling so we are just trying to make that a bit higher.”

Mr Walters said he was a “big fan” of the area and his children were settled in school, so he did not intend to move his family back to London.

But he added: “It is highly likely if we cannot get it the way we want to, we will have to move out of this part of Kent.

“We would just have to find somewhere else locally that suits our needs.”

The second application went before a planning inspector earlier this year after it had been rejected by CCC.

These original proposals in 2022 were the first to be rejected by Canterbury City Council. Picture: SEAS
These original proposals in 2022 were the first to be rejected by Canterbury City Council. Picture: SEAS
The second vision in 2023 saw design changes to the front of the house, but the application was again rejected by Canterbury City Council. Picture: SEAS
The second vision in 2023 saw design changes to the front of the house, but the application was again rejected by Canterbury City Council. Picture: SEAS
The latest vision shows design changes to the front and rear of the property, with the scale of the development appearing to have reduced. Picture: Invent Architecture
The latest vision shows design changes to the front and rear of the property, with the scale of the development appearing to have reduced. Picture: Invent Architecture

But the council’s decision was upheld by Stewart Glassar, who described the designs as “strident, discordant and overpowering”.

Despite noting some of the proposed features were “no doubt designed to minimise the size and scale of the works, and thus their visual effect”, he added “the result would nevertheless be a significantly larger building”.

“The principal and side elevations would have a much greater overall massing, that would noticeably contrast with the immediately neighbouring bungalows,” he wrote.

“Once extended, the building would have a strident, discordant and overpowering appearance.

“As a result, it would dominate and significantly harm this part of the street scene.”

Concluding, he added: “The proposed development would have an unacceptable effect on the character and appearance of the area.

“The proposal would also be contrary to provisions within the National Planning Policy Framework which include requirements that development should add to the overall quality of an area and be sympathetic to local character.”

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