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James Corden in tense planning row over wheelie bins in £11.5million London pad
Reach Daily Express | November 18, 2025 3:40 PM CST

Gavin and Stacey star creator James Corden has been forced to tear up his front garden following a bitter planning row over wheelie bins. The 47-year-old TV presenter splurged on the multi-million-pound London pad last year, which he shared with his wife, Julia Carey, and their three children, Max, Carey, and Charlotte. According to The Mail, the comedian decided to pave over part of his front lawn at his lavish new home for easier storage of his wheelie bins, but this decision didn't go down well with his neighbours.

Locals and preservation groups were left up in arms by the changes to the exterior of the £11.5million North London home. They branded the renovation as "unsightly" and "detrimental to the character and appearance" of the conservation area.

They have since accused the changes of contributing to reduced biodiversity in the area in addition to a loss of green space after a large flower bed was demolished. In order to appease the locals over the new changes, the Smithy star added four new trees to his front garden, but his neighbours were angered by this too, claiming they're too close together to thrive.

The planning application submitted by James' team in September described the external changes to the property as "minor landscaping works to the front garden to repair existing paving slabs".

However, after reviewing the application, Camden Council agreed with the complainants and has now reportedly ordered him to remove it by January 6 or face legal action through a formal enforcement notice.

Officials have reportedly ordered the dad-of-three to "completely remove the area of hard landscaping" and "make good any resulting damage". It comes months after James received complaints from his neighbours about excessive noise earlier this year.

The former late-night talk show host submitted plans to the local council to add an extension to his home, which would include a gym, office, den, spa, and shower room. However, the design came under fire for being too oversized and resembling a bungalow more than a single-story extension.

It received 18 letters of objection, with one complaint stating that the family had already created enough noise without the added noise of an extension. They wrote: "One of them plays the drums, which can often be heard on my terrace and occasionally inside my flat, even with the windows closed.

"What happens if they decide to move the drum kit out of the house and put it in the den?" The comic's planning team applied for a Lawful Development Certificate, which explains that the plans don't need full planning permission if they meet certain requirements, such as the size of the extension.

The planning officer agreed that in the report, the application had met the requirements and soon dismissed any complaints about noise and use of the outbuilding. But the decision was agreed on the grounds that James' construction team should be careful not to damage nearby trees and can't be used as a "granny flat".


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