A homeowner in south London has been ordered by Southwark Council to remove a section of the Berlin Wall he erected in his garden. The council stated the approximately 3.6-meter-tall segment created an "oppressive sense of enclosure" and caused "planning harm," significantly exceeding the two-meter height limit for garden enclosures.
Steven Thorpe, 65, acquired the piece of the wall from a German farmer and installed it earlier this year at his Herne Hill home. Neighbors complained, leading to the council's intervention. A planning enforcement notice is expected, which would require the removal of the structure. Thorpe could face a fine of up to £20,000 if he does not comply.
Thorpe, a property developer, disputes the council's assessment, arguing the structure should be considered a "historical artefact or sculpture" rather than an unauthorized structure. He claims the wall is 3.1 meters tall and positioned 97cm from his garden boundary, not the 60cm cited by the planning officer. He stated that the wall is a "free-standing, historic artefact" and not enclosing any land.
He also suggested that his neighbor can barely see the top of the wall due to shrubbery he has planted along the fence. Thorpe believes the council's assertion of planning harm lacks sufficient backup and that officers should have visited the site before issuing their findings. He plans to appeal the decision.
The council indicated that a planning application might be considered if the wall were relocated within the garden and if there was evidence of neighbor consultation. However, without such proposals, issuing a planning enforcement notice is deemed the "only option available."
The Berlin Wall was a 155-kilometer barrier constructed by East Germany in August 1961 to prevent its citizens from defecting to the West. It remained standing until November 1989, when its dismantling began following a mistaken announcement about travel regulations.
The council confirmed receiving a planning complaint about the section of wall and stated they would investigate and take appropriate action in line with national planning processes.
