EXCLUSIVE Nick Clegg’s Grand Designs stumped by rampaging roots: Former Lib Dem leader wants to axe 30ft magnolia tree damaging his £8M London home as he plans large garden extension

• EXCLUSIVE: Sir Nick Clegg’s £8m home revamp is almost stumped by rogue tree 

Sir Nick Clegg was nearly left stumped after he submitted plans for a Grand Designs-style makeover at the £8million London home he bought from Hollywood star Colin Firth.

The former deputy prime minister discovered the roots of a 30ft-tall magnolia tree were threatening the foundations of the six bedroom Queen Anne-style house in one of the capital’s most sought after suburbs.

A survey by structural engineers discovered the spreading roots of the troublesome tree had already created ‘a considerable trip hazard’ after damaging paving at the spot where Sir Nick, 56, wants to build a 300ft square foot grand garden room at the side of the Victorian mansion.

Now the tree is set to be axed to make way for the extension and prevent further damage to the Grade II listed house which was built in 1878 by renowned British architect Richard Norman Shaw.

The bespoke glass-roofed garden room is part of a series of alterations Sir Nick wants to introduce to transform the property into his perfect family home.

Last year Sir Nick announced that he, his wife Miriam Gonzalez Durantez (left) and their three sons were moving back to London (both pictured in 2015)

Sir Nick Clegg was nearly left stumped after he submitted plans for a Grand Designs-style makeover at the £8million London home he bought from Hollywood star Colin Firth (pictured)

Pictured is Sir Nick’s home in London 

The garden of Sir Nick’s home is pictured. The former politician has ambitious plans to overhaul it 

Pictured is the magnolia tree that was causing concern with the planning application 

They include demolishing a wall to get rid of a pantry and create a 320 square foot kitchen which will open up onto the back garden of the 1.5 acre property which is set in a conservation area in leafy Chiswick, west London.

The kitchen will also have doors leading to the garden room as will a large new 440 square foot dining and living area proposed under plans submitted to Hounslow Council.

As part of the transformation Sir Nick – who now works as Mark Zuckerberg’s right-hand man at tech giant Meta, which runs Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp – wants to dig down to reinstate the original cellar at the property.

On the ground floor, which also features a study, library and drawing room, Sir Nick wants to remove a modern ‘alien’ staircase and replace it with a more traditional one.

Under the plans, Sir Nick wants to make changes which will see a 215 square foot master bedroom open through to a separate large dressing room which spans 180 square foot.

The dressing room will lead to an ensuite bathroom complete with a shower, bath and bidet.

The second floor, which has four more large bedrooms and a bathroom, will have access to the garden roof terrace which will be finished with timber decking.

View of a mimosa tree in the rear garden where Sir Nick plans to make improvements 

A rear view of the property which will reserve an overhaul 

This is a view of some of the new small buildings Sir Nick plans to build in his garden 

Meanwhile outside the property, the former politician wants to tear down an old pergola and build a brand new office space at the bottom of his garden.

In all nine trees will have to be chopped down under the plans to make way for the extension and ensure the property does not suffer further damage.

Explaining the problem, structural engineers said in their report: ‘The magnolia tree is particularly close to the building and there is clear evidence of its roots having damaged the terrace paving by making the floor very uneven and currently a considerable trip hazard.

‘There is also a manhole adjacent to the magnolia, collecting water from the gullies and rainwater pipes in this area.

‘The CCTV also shows that at least two pipes connected to this manhole have suffered severe root infiltration which prevented the camera survey to proceed beyond.

‘As structural engineers, we are also particularly concerned about the magnolia tree, given its proximity with the listed fabric of the building.

‘This tree has already damaged the paving and the drainage, and if allowed to grow will inevitably cause damage to the foundations of the listed building.

‘Based on these aspects, we would recommend that the magnolia is removed in any case, to halt any further harm to the building and services.’

They recommended the garden room be built with a special base to ‘minimise the impact’ of surviving roots.

The plans include internal alterations and layout changes to all three floors and two new dormer windows.

Plans show what the first floor of the property could look like 

Sir Nick now works as Mark Zuckerberg ‘s right-hand man at tech giant Meta , which runs Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp

When plans were initially submitted they included proposed rooflights but officials said they should be removed while external openings would ‘change the character for no justifiable reason’.

Sir Nick submitted revised plans and a decision is expected later this month. There have so far been no objections from neighbours.

As part of the application Sir Nick’s heritage consultant Dr Jonathan Edis said: ‘The proposals will preserve the significance of the Grade II listed building unharmed and they will greatly improve the amenity, making it a more attractive place in which to live.’

The consultants added: ‘The external alterations are sensitively designed and will not harm the residential amenities of the adjacent neighbours.’

Last year Sir Nick announced that he, his wife Miriam Gonzalez Durantez and their three sons were moving back to London for personal reasons, being closer to his elderly parents.

He sold his five-bedroom mansion in California’s Silicon Valley for £10.3million.

Land Registry records show that the London property was sold for £8.2million in January to Three Tiger Holdings, of which Sir Nick and his wife are the only two directors.

Oscar winning actor Colin made a tidy profit on the property after snapping it up in 2005 for £2.5million.

The area, which has been billed as the ‘new Notting Hill’, boasts a list of celebrity residents including actor TV presenters Declan Donnelly and Stephen Mulhern, actor David Tennant, and radio presenters Jamie Theakston and Jeremy Vine.

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