Deirdre O Meara 
Comedian and Strictly Come Dancing winner Bill Bailey has won his battle with neighbours to install a swimming pool in his back garden. Bailey, who won the 2020 Strictly final alongside professional dancer Oti Mabuse, wants to convert two separate apartments at his Victorian villa into a single two-bedroom pad worth £2m. However, his plans to dig up his garden and add a pool house complete with an extended living and dining area have riled neighbours in Hammersmith, west London. They complained about noise from building work, as well as the noise, light and smell pollution from Bailey’s “zoo” of birds, rabbits, cats and ducks.
Bailey had originally been given planning permission five years ago but was unable to carry out building work within the three-year deadline due to Covid restrictions. After re-applying to the local council for planning permission and submitting revised plans for a smaller pool, reducing it from 42x16ft to 20x10ft, he was met with objections. Neighbours complained that the new build would be a “nuisance” and moaned building work would add to the “unpleasant smell” already coming from Bailey’s “zoo”.
Despite the objections, Bailey was given the go-ahead for the conversion and pool by officials at Hammersmith and Fulham council. Planning officer Elliot Brown ruled: “It is considered that the proposal would not have an unacceptable impact on the amenities of the occupiers of neighbouring residential properties, and would be of an acceptable visual appearance.”
The pool house will include an extended living and dining area with a moveable rising and lowering pool deck, and a basement plant room accessed by a stepped garden terrace. The proposed works also include a glazed roof covering to the side of the shared access between the two properties, a new internal timber stairway and external alterations.
Bailey bought his home for £350,000 in 2004 but according to property website The Move Market, it is now believed to be worth £812,000 and possibly £2m with the pool extension. Other famous residents who live nearby include MP Michael Gove, Top Gear presenter James May, comedian Miranda Hart and actor Nicholas Lyndhurst.
In a 2015 interview with TV’s Lorraine, Bailey said: “We started off with a couple of rescue animals like a dog from the pound then another dog to keep it company, and then a cat from the pound. Then it just snowballed a bit, now we’ve got quite a lot of animals, birds, rabbits, ducks. The ducks come in the house and chickens crow in the morning. It’s a little bit tricky in west London.”
Despite the objections raised by his neighbours, Bailey has won the right to build a swimming pool in his back garden. The comedian’s plans to convert two separate apartments into a single two-bedroom pad and add a pool house with an extended living and dining area were met with complaints from neighbours in Hammersmith, west London. They complained about the noise, light and smell pollution from Bailey’s “zoo” of birds, rabbits, cats and ducks, as well as the noise from building work.
Bailey had originally been granted planning permission five years ago, but the Covid-19 pandemic prevented him from carrying out the work within the three-year deadline. After re-applying for planning permission and submitting revised plans for a smaller pool, Bailey was met with objections from neighbours. Despite this, officials at Hammersmith and Fulham council gave Bailey the go-ahead for the conversion and pool.
The pool house will include an extended living and dining area with a moveable rising and lowering pool deck, and a basement plant room accessed by a stepped garden terrace. The proposed works also include a glazed roof covering to the side of the shared access between the two properties, a new internal timber stairway and external alterations.
Bailey’s home, which he bought for £350,000 in 2004, is now believed to be worth £812,000 and possibly £2m with the pool extension, according to property website The Move Market. Other famous residents who live nearby include MP Michael Gove, Top Gear presenter James May, comedian Miranda Hart and actor Nicholas Lyndhurst.
In a 2015 interview with TV’s Lorraine, Bailey spoke about his family’s collection of animals, saying: “We started off with a couple of rescue animals like a dog from the pound then another dog to keep it company, and then a cat from the pound. Then it just snowballed a bit, now we’ve got quite a lot of animals, birds, rabbits, ducks. The ducks come in the house and chickens crow in the morning. It’s a little bit tricky in west London.”
