Kirstie Allsopp’s partner is at the centre of a bitter row with neighbours after a series of giant wooden posts mysteriously appeared outside the couple’s new pub.
Angry residents claim the structures pose a dangerous hazard to pedestrians and wheelchair users.
And they raised fears property developer Ben Andersen is attempting to by-pass planning laws by ’illegally’ building an outdoor terrace.
But Mr Andersen insists he is putting up temporary ‘construction hoardings’ so that building waste can be disposed of safely.
Council officials launched an investigation after confirming that no planning application had been made.
It comes after MailOnline revealed the couple were accused by irate residents of ‘destroying local heritage and imposing their name on the area’.
Kirstie Allsopp’s partner is at the centre of a bitter row with neighbours after a series of giant wooden posts mysteriously appeared outside the couple’s new pub
Kirstie Allsopp and her husband Ben Anderson (pictured together) have angered local residents, who claim the structures pose a hazard to pedestrians and wheelchair users
Allsopp, 52, and Andersen, 63, have been a couple for 20 years. They have two teenage sons while Andersen has two sons from a previous relationship.
The Location, Location, Location star’s partner bought the empty pub last year and is looking for a landlord to run it as ‘a micro brewery or artisan distillery’ – selling Allsopp’s original Indian pale ale among its beers.
Locals were upset after a huge sign – which features the words ‘Allsopp’s since 1730’ along with a huge gloved hand painted on a bright mustard coloured background – was emblazoned over the front door.
They called for the sign to be removed as it was put up before planning permission had been granted.
Residents complained the sign bore ‘no resemblance’ to plans submitted and is three times bigger.
But in February council officials said the sign was ‘acceptable’ and ruled it would not be in the public interest to pursue enforcement action.
Now it appears further trouble is brewing after eight eight-foot tall wooden posts were bolted onto the concrete pavement outside the pub in north Kensington, west London.
One furious local wrote to the council complaining: ‘There’s some dodgy business going on with attempts to illegally extend the front of the property for more trading space,’
The resident said: ‘They’ve gone and extended onto the public pavement. They’ve whacked up massive wooden posts, getting ready to build an extension or a porch.
Locals raised fears property developer Ben Andersen is attempting to by-pass planning laws by ’illegally’ building an outdoor terrace
‘The developer has messed with the public pavement before, and now he’s acting like it’s his.
‘These unauthorised works need to be taken down, sharpish. The public pavement needs to be fixed up properly. We need to move fast before he puts in a retrospective claim saying he owns the road.
‘If we don’t take action the public pavement, which is for everyone to use, will be lost to a private developer.
‘This means less space for pedestrians and potentially more hazards.
‘If this developer gets away with it, others might think they can do the same, leading to more unauthorised extensions and takeovers of public land.’
The complainant said unauthorised development ‘could affect the character and heritage of the area’ adding: ‘The construction might not meet safety standards, posing risks to the public. Unregulated extensions could be dangerous.
‘Huge poles have been erected on the public pavement, and today a skip was installed on the corner, deliberately blocking wheelchair access and forcing users onto the road.
‘We must insist that the pavements are reinstated and made safe as soon as possible.’
Another resident, who complained of the ‘constant loading and unloading of skips’, said: ‘For the safety of our kids and the entire community, we must act swiftly. The current state of affairs is unacceptable.’
Council officials have subsequently launched an investigation after confirming that no planning application had been made
Planning enforcement officers from the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea have launched an investigation.
A spokesperson for the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea said: ‘Planning officers have received a complaint.
‘We have advised the complainant that planning permission has not been granted for these works and we will investigate.’
The area has now been partially enclosed with wooden hoarding and builders at the site insist it has been put up temporarily to aid the safe removal of building waste while work is going on in the pub’s cellar.
One man who complained has now been told by the council that the posts are on private land and no planning permission was required to put up construction hoarding.
The pub, which was believed to have been built in the 1880’s, was originally called the British Volunteer.
After changing hands a number of times it was renamed Ariadne’s Nectar and was a popular hangout for musicians and artists and boasted pop star Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Blur singer Damon Albarn and members of The Clash among its visitors.
After Kirstie’s partner bought the pub concerns were also raised that a first floor restaurant had been converted into flats without planning permission being sought.
Some locals raised concerns that the pub would never reopen and feared attempts would be made to turn it into more homes.
But Mr Andersen’s firm Wentworth Andersen has applied for a new licence for the pub to operate between 10am and 11.30pm on Sundays to Wednesdays and from 10am to midnight on Thursdays to Saturdays.
When the sign row erupted a source close to Kirstie told MailOnline: ‘Ben Andersen has lived in the area his whole life. He’s known that pub in its various incarnations and he’s proud and happy to be owning it and re-opening it as a pub which will sell Allsopp’s beer.
‘The sign was put up to sell the beer like many other pubs do. I don’t think it would have occurred to Ben that Kirstie’s name is more of note than the name of the beer.
The pub, which was believed to have been built in the 1880’s, was originally called the British Volunteer
‘The people who have complained have completely misunderstood. The sign that has gone up is advertising the beer that is going to be sold in the pub. It’s not that someone is pretending that there is a heritage that didn’t exist.
‘Ben wants it to go back to the old name the Volunteer. It won’t be called Allsopp’s. You don’t call a pub after the name of the beer you’re selling.
‘The plan is for it to go back to being a pub in an area that used to be full of pubs but they have all closed down.
‘An old pub is being reopened and an English beer is being revitalised – surely that can only be a good thing.’
Allsopp’s beer was established by Kirstie’s great great grandfather after being originally founded in 1730.
Samuel Allsopp was said to be the first to perfect Burton India pale Ale in 1822.
The brand was revived by Kirstie’s cousin Jamie who is said to closely follow original recipes.