A plastic surgeon to the stars whose clients include Hollywood A-listers and fashion royalty has been ordered to demolish a luxury rooftop structure on his £6.7million Chelsea townhouse.
Harley Street cosmetic surgeon Yannis Alexandrides – whose cult skincare brand 111Skin is a celebrity favourite – installed a sleek metal pergola on the roof terrace of his family’s three-storey townhouse in one of London‘s most prestigious neighbourhoods.
Dr Yannis, 58, and wife Eva, 50, paid for the structure to enjoy sunset views from the comfort of their architect-designed home in one of the capital’s most affluent streets.
But the pergola ruffled the feathers of council officials who said it had been erected without planning permission and blighted the character of the area.
Kensington and Chelsea Council argued the modern canopy – which adjoins the family’s previously approved rooftop conservatory – was out of keeping with the elegant redbrick terraces of exclusive SW3.
Now Dr Yannis, who counts Margot Robbie, Victoria Beckham and Kim Kardashian as fans of his skincare brand, has been handed six months to tear down the structure after losing an appeal against enforcement action.
Harley Street cosmetic surgeon Yannis Alexandrides installed a sleek metal pergola on the roof terrace of his family’s three-storey townhouse (pictured) in one of London’s most prestigious neighbourhoods
Dr Yannis, 58, and wife Eva, 50, (pictured) paid for the structure to enjoy sunset views from the comfort of their architect-designed home in one of the capital’s most affluent streets
Pictured: Images of the street before and after the pergola was installed
In a stinging decision, the Planning Inspectorate ruled that the pergola rose conspicuously above the roofline and failed to respect the architectural rhythm of the terrace, which lies in a protected conservation area.
Inspector Andy Harwood concluded: ‘The framework of the pergola extends close to the edge of the roof both at the front and the rear and even though the blinds were not closed when I visited and I could see the sky through the structure, it is still very prominent and jarring.’
‘When closed, those blinds would increase the impact further.
‘The structure is also far more prominent and obvious than the conservatory which is set back from the front and rear edges of the roof.’
Mr Harwood ruled the development had a ‘harmful effect on the character and appearance of the area’ and did not ‘meet the highest standards of urban design and architectural quality’.
Dr Yannis, whose 111 Harley Street clinic is world-famous, proposed remodelling the pergola to satisfy council planners but the inspector ruled that only full removal would remedy the breach.
The couple, who have two sons, previously showcased their Chelsea home in Hello! magazine, with Eva describing their pad as a ‘refuge’ during Covid.
Dr Yannis, an Athens-born former trauma surgeon, added: ‘It was stressful because the business was closed, but we really enjoyed being together as a family, so it was a positive experience as well.’
The pergola (pictured) ruffled the feathers of council officials who said it had been erected without planning permission and blighted the character of the area
Pictured: The pergola, which was built on top of the family’s roof terrace
Dr Yannis (pictured) counts Margot Robbie, Victoria Beckham and Kim Kardashian as fans of his skincare brand
Pictured: Aerial views of the terrace before and after the pergola was erected
The couple carried out a full-scale renovation before moving in, relocating the living room and kitchen to the first floor to maximise light and moved the bedrooms to the ground floor.
They also extended into the basement, which now serves as a private gym, and filled the house with artwork collected from around the world.
Rightmove currently estimates the property as being worth £6.7 million.
Their 111Skin brand, a go-to for the likes of Priyanka Chopra and Bella Hadid, has become a global powerhouse stocked in Harrods, Selfridges and Net-a-Porter.
In January, the brand secured investment from Kim Kardashian’s private equity firm, SKKY Partners, to fuel expansion in North America and Asia.
The brand has become a market leader in luxury sheet masks, selling more than 18 million Rose Gold Brightening Facial Treatment Masks since its launch in 2018.
Dr Yannis was this month praised by television sports presented Laura Woods after she collapsed mid-broadcast while fronting ITV coverage of England Women against Ghana.
Woods, who was caught by pundit Ian Wright after suddenly falling forward, later posted: ‘To Dr Yannis Alexandrides and his wonderful medical assistant Zuzanna at 111 who opened their emergency surgery and came in on their days off, they were so gentle and have already worked magic that I didn’t think was possible to reduce the damage.’
Dr Yannis and Eva have been approached for comment.
