Claudia Schiffer and Matthew Vaughn lose planning battle over neighbour's property extension

Supermodel Claudia Schiffer and her film director husband Matthew Vaughn have lost a planning battle against a neighbour’s proposed property extension.

The celebrity couple, who own Coldham Hall in Stanningfield, said they would be ‘directly and adversely impacted’ by the plans and submitted an objection to West Suffolk Council.

Hanne Pilo applied to the authority to demolish a ‘dilapidated’ outbuilding and modern single-storey extension at Coldham Hall Cottage to build two-storey extensions to the side and back as well as a cartlodge and outbuilding.

Despite the famous pair’s objections, the council has granted Miss Pilo planning permission after officers said they were ‘satisfied that the proposed development will not have an adverse impact on the setting of Coldham Hall itself’.

Planning consultants for Ms Schiffer and Mr Vaughn said their properties were ‘located on the boundary of the application property and would be directly and adversely impacted by the proposals’.

They commissioned a heritage assessment on the proposals.

In a letter to the council, Roger Hepher, director of hgh Consulting and Town Legal, representing the pair, said their assessment concluded that ‘the large overtly residential extension would be detrimental to the settings’ of heritage assets Coldham Hall Farmhouse, Grade II listed stables and a Grade II listed outbuilding with clocktower.

However, a council officer report noted that Coldham Hall Farmhouse was the ‘only adjoining neighbouring property’ and more than 30 metres away from the proposed side and rear extension with an existing garage between the two.

The report said: “It is therefore considered that the proposed extension will not result in any material adverse impact on the neighbouring property in terms of overlooking, loss of light or having an overbearing impact.”

On the proposed cartlodge and outbuildings, the report said their location ‘appears to be the most logical without carving up or having a greater impact on the setting of Coldham Hall Cottage’. It added that officers were satisfied that the development ‘will not have an adverse impact on the setting of Coldham Hall itself’.