Sir Cliff Richard ordered to knock down his Conservatory in Surrey

Sir Cliff Richard has been ordered to pull down his conservatory at his Surrey mansion after losing a long battle with planning officials.

The singer, right, failed to seek planning permission for the 17ft-long extension in 2006.

Runnymede Council last year told him he had breached planning rules. Now they have dismissed his appeal against their decision. He has until March 9 to remove the structure. Sir Cliff, thought to be worth £40million, knocked down a bungalow on the exclusive Wentworth estate in Virginia Water to build a large mansion.

Planning rules allowed his new home 30 per cent more area than the original house. The £30,000 conservatory was built in 2006.  But he had not noticed the total area was now nearly 40 per cent greater than the original home. It was picked up by officials only when Sir Cliff put the house up for sale last year for £1.35million. Sir Cliff applied retrospectively for planning permission.
Dave Farrell, Sir Cliff’s planning consultant, called the demolition order ‘a bit silly’, adding: ‘We’re disappointed but it’s just one of those things.’

Planning committee chairman Cllr Geoff Woodger said: ‘The decision confirms our view that the conservatory breached policy.’

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