Get me out of here, says Declan Donnelly's neighbour after he demolishes home to build ugly mansion

11 April 2012
The Weekender

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As half of Ant and Dec, he is among the public's favourite TV personalities.

But Declan Donnelly would win few popularity polls among his future neighbours.

After buying a house in a sought-after West London enclave, he has had it knocked down and the plot has become a wasteland covered in rubble and besieged by vandals and drunks.

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Friends yet to be reunited: Ant (left) and Dec

"It is very distressing," said 48-year-old Joy Barrett, a grandmother who lives next door.

"Just you wait until Dec moves in - I'll give him some stick."

The co-host of I'm Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here chose the property because his colleague and best friend Ant McPartlin lives three doors away.

Bizarrely, the joined-at-the-hip pair also used to be neighbours on another West London street until Ant moved on two years ago.

Donnelly, 32, was given planning permission to demolish the £2million 1930s property next door to Mrs Barrett and build a three-storey mansion including swimming pool with retractable roof, wine cellar and cinema.

Thinking the work would be over quickly, Mrs Barrett gave permission for builders to use her land to gain easier access to the site.

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The 1930s property which Donnelly bought only to have it knocked down ...

... and the rubbish-strewn wasteland still waiting for work to start on the new mansion

Seven months after the bungalow was knocked down, however, construction work has yet to start on the replacement house.

Meanwhile Mrs Barrett claims to have had her property badly damaged by builders and had flytippers walking up her path to dump rubbish into the site.

She says fencing at her home has been smashed and some has been replaced with ugly metal barriers.

McPartlin's home 3 doors away

She told the Mail: "My main worry is that they want to get rid of the path to my front door. I am dreading it.

"I have trouble walking and it will make things more difficult for me. I don't want to be stuck in here for however long it takes."

Mrs Barrett, who has been in her present home for ten years, added: "We were not even informed when the work would be taking place.

"I just woke up one morning to the noise of the builders knocking the house down.

"It was the beginning of summer and we had just bought a swimming pool - we had to get rid of it because of all the dust.

"The day we were filling the pool the builders were up on the roof and all the debris was coming down into the garden.

"It was incredibly dangerous. I have a young grandson and there are always a lot of kids coming in and out of my house.

"When they were knocking down the house the bricks were flying over the fence. I don't think Dec should ever have been given permission to knock the old house down.

"It was a beautiful little cottage converted from stables. It was really quaint and lovely - it will feel horrible when they build the new house."

The replacement property will have six bedrooms, a whirlpool and steam room, billiard room and gym. It is being designed by the same architect responsible for McPartlin's home.

Mrs Barrett's daughter, Terri, 24, added: "No one seems to know what has been holding up the work. It is very annoying that the land has been left in such a state."

She added: "I see Ant and Dec around a lot. Dec drives up in his big car with the personalised number plates. He often says hello, but he has never mentioned the house or apologised for the disruption.

"It has been a nightmare. It spoiled our summer and it looks like it will spoil next summer because there's no way it will be finished by then."

Donnelly's spokesman said: "The neighbour in question has not complained to Dec about these issues.

"Unfortunately due to unforeseen circumstances the building of the new house has been delayed.

"Dec has ensured the site is firmly secured and there is as minimal disruption as possible. At this time no one has been asked to move out of neighbouring properties.

"An impartial party-wall surveyor has been appointed and he has agreed the time and manner of all works carried out."

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