Robbie Williams wins battle to fell tree at £17m property despite backlash from neighbours

Robbie Williams has been granted permission to chop down a tree at his £17m home despite backlash from his neighbours.

According to reports, the Take That frontman, 50, applied to Kensington and Chelsea council to remove the Norway Maple at his Grade II listed property. He said the tree was suffering from Honey Fungus, a deadly infection attacking its roots.

The application faced objections from neighbours in the leafy Holland Park neighbourhood, with one anonymous person writing: “There is no explanation as to why this tree need be felled, only a series of photos showing parts of it are damaged.”

In a ruling, the council found in favour of Williams, stating: “The decline of this tree looks to have been caused by Honey Fungus and there is no chemical control for this disease.”

“The tree has reached the end of its safe useful life expectancy and should be removed and replaced,” it continued, as per the Evening Standard.

The “Angels” singer and Better Man actor has been embroiled in numerous disputes with neighbours over the years, including battling Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page after Williams wished to build an underground swimming pool and gym in 2014.

Page, 80, who has lived at his property since 1972, said that the work could damage the ancient paintings and frescoes of his home. After a five-year battle, Williams won.

The “Feel” singer also rode through a wave of backlash from neighbours about the felling of another tree, a 70ft Robina, in 2023.

Williams applied to remove the tree in June 2023, stating that the base of the tree was decaying and causing damage to his garden wall.

Although the identity of the neighbour was not revealed, one anonymous person objected “very strongly” to his application at the time.

“Mr Williams has already been granted permission to chop down several trees at his property and now another seems likely to fall victim to his wishes,” an unnamed neighbour told the MailOnline at the time.

“Trees are our friends and not our enemies. We must love them – and not to take an axe to them.”

The “Angels” singer was reportedly already denied permission to cut the tree back in 2022, as the local council said he had not provided evidence of the “extent of decay”. However, he was eventually successful and the tree was felled shortly before Christmas in 2023.