Paul Hollywood has won a three-year planning dispute to extend his historic £1 million cottage in Kent, allowing for the construction of a camera-friendly kitchen extension for television filming. Council officials had previously rejected the television personality's bid to build the extension at his 18th-century farmhouse near Ashford.
Hollywood purchased the four-bedroom property for £810,000 in 2019 and sought to replace a 1980s lean-to conservatory with a larger open-plan kitchen-diner. Following months of negotiations, he has now been granted permission to demolish the existing conservatory and proceed with the revised development.
Planners ultimately approved the extension after Hollywood reduced its dimensions from 20 feet to 18 feet in length and its depth from 21 feet to 18 feet. He also received approval to construct a walled kitchen garden featuring fruit trees and raised beds for growing his own produce.
Conservation officers found the revised scheme to be a considerable improvement and more in keeping with the character of the listed dwelling. While acknowledging that the proposed wall style might be more suited to a higher-status country house, they deemed it acceptable in relation to the kitchen garden enclosure.
Hollywood's planning agent stated that the extension is necessary for filming purposes, as the current kitchen is too small and inadequately configured for cameras. The proposed space is intended to facilitate the filming of a documentary series featuring Hollywood cooking from his home, offering viewers an enhanced experience within his familiar environment. The agent emphasized the unique factor of using the space for TV cookery shows as a public social benefit.
During the earlier planning stages, one local resident supported Hollywood's proposal, questioning why he should be prevented from filming in his own home on private property. Hollywood is scheduled to appear on the new series of 'The Great British Bake Off' alongside Nigella Lawson next month.