Steven Thorpe, a property developer, has been informed by Southwark Council that a section of the Berlin Wall he installed in his south London garden may need to be removed due to planning violations. The council issued a notice identifying the installation as "unauthorised building works" that require planning permission.
Thorpe acquired a piece of the wall in Siggelkow, Germany, with the intention of preserving it. After placing it in his garden in Herne Hill, he received the notice from the council on July 2.
The council's enforcement notice stated that the "building works" were "unacceptable" and that the installation harmed neighboring properties due to its "overbearing scale, oppressive sense of enclosure and stark industrial appearance." Thorpe had dug a pit to house the 12ft (3.6m) structure, with approximately 10ft (3.1m) remaining above ground. He also planted greenery around it in an effort to mitigate its visual impact.
Thorpe told the BBC that he did not believe he needed permission for what he considered an "artwork" in his garden. He stated that he is now working "constructively" with the local authority to resolve the issue. The enforcement notice warned Thorpe that failure to obtain planning permission could result in a fine of up to £20,000.