Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour has been ordered to tear down his garden shed after neighbours fell foul of the ‘obtrusive’ development.
The 79-year-old submitted a retrospective planning application to Camden Council following the start of work on the development in April this year.
He defended the new structure on his Hampstead property in north London, stating it was of a ‘modest size’ and built in a ‘traditional style’ as it replaced a summerhouse and an aging shed.
But locals claimed the shed was ‘significantly more visually and physically intrusive than what was originally approved or what stood there before’.
Mr Gilmour has now been told he must move the 2.5-metre-high, 1.9-metre-wide and 2.9-metre-deep development – by 2.5 metres.
It comes after the musician had been forced to amend his retrospective plans following a string of complaints.
He has been handed a one-month ultimatum to tear down the structure and rebuild it 2.5 metres from the garden’s rear boundary.
The Hampstead Hill Gardens Residents’ Association argued that such a situation should not have occurred since the shed was supposed to be constructed over existing structures as per the planning permission granted in 2023.
Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour has been ordered to tear down his garden shed (pictured) after neighbours fell foul of the ‘obtrusive’ development
Mr Gilmour had outlined the shed design in his plans saying it would be ‘bespoke’ and detailing the measurements
Neighbours went so far as to accuse Mr Gilmour of being ‘unneighbourly’
Chairman Audrey Mandela called for the shed to be removed entirely.
A representative stated: ‘The proposal should be turned down because the current structure is intrusive, overwhelming, and far more visually and physically noticeable than what was initially sanctioned or previously existed.
‘The decision we hope the council will make is that it is removed as soon as possible to stop the continued harm to neighbourhood amenity.
‘We are apprehensive that this application seems intentionally deceptive. This does not appear to be a minor mistake but rather a deliberate repositioning of the structure that would not have been approved.’
Whiteacre Planning, the agents representing Mr. Gilmour, mentioned in the application documents that it is crucial for the new development to ensure there is no negative effect on neighboring amenities, such as invasion of privacy or overshadowing.
Despite this some locals have accused Mr Gilmour of being ‘unneighbourly’.
After the retrospective application was filed, a neighbor complained that the new shed was placed against the rear fence, making it impossible to conceal with greenery, unlike the previous structure.
Another added the building should be amended to allow a two-metre gap behind the shed – in order to ‘provide space for planting and wildlife’.
Mr Gilmour had insisted the new shed at his home in Hampstead, north London – which was replacing a summerhouse (pictured) – would be of ‘modest size’ and ‘traditional construction’
The development was replacing a summerhouse and an old shed (pictured) – but neighbours insisted it was much larger
And objector Alex Shinder said: ‘There was no consultation and the action is unneighbourly.’
Whitacre Planning rejected the notion the shed would cause any adverse impact on neighbouring amenity.
It stated: ‘Although the roof of the shed is above the height of the boundary fence, it will not lead to any overlooking, loss of privacy, or overshadowing.’
The letter concluded Mr Gilmour’s proposal should be ‘granted without delay’ – as it ‘complies with all relevant local and national planning policy’.
It is not the first time one of the guitarist’s sheds has caused controversy.
In 2011, Mr Gilmour was told he must pull down a beach hut at his listed £3million seafront mansion or face prosecution.
The local council told the rock musician the yellow hut he used to house his bicycles was an eyesore in the conservation area at Hove, East Sussex, and had to go.
David Gilmour receives the “O2 Silver Clef Award” onstage on July 2 2025
Mr Gilmour famously sold his house in London’s Maida Vale to Earl Spencer and donated the £3.6million proceeds to Crisis, a charity for the homeless
The singer and songwriter (second from right) joined Pink Floyd in 1967 before the band became one of the highest-selling and most acclaimed acts in music history in the early 1980s
Mr Gilmour famously sold his house in London’s Maida Vale to Earl Spencer – and donated the £3.6 million proceeds to Crisis, a charity for the homeless.
The singer and songwriter joined Pink Floyd in 1967 before the band became one of the highest-selling and most acclaimed acts in music history in the early 1980s.
Mr Gilmour has also released five solo albums.
