Privacy row erupts after wealthy owner illegally builds roof terrace on top of £5.75million Primrose Hill townhouse - leaving strangers to peer into their bathrooms and bedrooms

By ELIZABETH HAIGH, SENIOR NEWS REPORTER Published: 14:39, 18 July 2026 | Updated: 14:40, 18 July 2026 A planning row has broken out on an exclusive north London street after the owner of a £5.75million townhouse built a roof terrace without permission - which neighbours say invades their privacy. Primrose Hill residents claim the terrace on Rothwell Street means people can now look directly into their bedrooms and bathrooms. The terrace was completed in November 2024 and includes seating, a table, an umbrella and a worktop with a sink. The current owners, who bought the Grade II-listed home in 2023, are now applying to Camden Council for retrospective planning permission. They have sought approval 'for the installation of freestanding composite decking system lain on the surface of the existing roof', according to planning documents. But locals on Rothwell Street, where the average sold price last year was £4.2million, and nearby Regent's Park Road, where houses can sell for up to £7.5million, are not happy. They say giving the decking the green light would 'represent a de facto change of use of the entire roof area to a roof terrace' and are urging the council to reject the plans. Frank Lord, 61, bought his five-bedroom, 3,539 square-feet mid-terrace home at 114 Regent's Park Road last year. A planning row has broken out on an exclusive north London street after the owner of a £5.75 million townhouse built a roof terrace without permission Frank Lord, 61, bought his five-bedroom, 3,539 square-feet mid-terrace home at 114 Regent's Park Road last year, and is now worried about his family's privacy Mr Lord said his adult daughter was left in tears after having to 'crawl' out of the bathtub to avoid being seen by people on the terrace opposite The American father-of-two, who works in sales for a software company, moved to the area with his wife and two adult children from his former rented flat in Maida Vale last year. He was originally minded to let the existence of the roof terrace go. But now he's raised a formal objection with the council. He says his mind changed after his daughter, 31, was left 'in tears' when she had to crawl out of the shower in April this year after seeing people on the roof terrace looking out towards their home. Now, he's been forced to move their bedrooms from the back of the house towards the front for increased privacy, instead using the rear rooms as storage, and he permanently partially closes the blinds to prevent people looking in. Mr Lord, from Miami, Florida, said: 'We bought this house because we wanted absolute privacy, and we paid a lot of money for the house. 'Then we moved in only to find out we don't have the privacy.' Now, he wants the neighbours to put in barriers. He added: 'At a minimum they should put up a piece of opaque glass that is tall enough that somebody who's six-feet or under couldn't be seen peering over it. Locals on Rothwell Street, where the average sold price last year was £4.2million, are not happy with the new terrace Victoria Hooberman, 57, who has lived opposite the home with her husband Ronald Hooberman, 83, for 30 years, is also against the proposals Residents are concerned about an invasion of privacy and noise from parties 'That way, if they're up there, my daughter doesn't have to worry about building a shelter so she doesn't get seen in the bath tub. 'I'm not trying to tell them not to live their lives, but they should be courteous towards others. 'It's not like they're seeing the park, they're seeing my house – why should they want to see the back of my house, why should they want to see our bedrooms? 'They should just spend whatever it costs to put up a glass wall, and at least for me, it would be done and we would go back to being good neighbours. 'I'm not asking them to rip it all out – that's not who I am, I'm proudly American in that way, everybody should live and let live. 'But, I think at the same time they should take into consideration our privacy.' Victoria Hooberman, 57, who has lived opposite the home with her husband Ronald Hooberman, 83, for 30 years, has objected to the plans. She wants planning permission to be refused as she is worried about her neighbours looking directly into her bedroom and the loud noise caused by people shouting during parties on the roof. Victoria said she was 'astonished' that the terrace was built without planning permission, adding: 'It's subtly depressing and subtly stressful. You do not feel as free and easy in your own home.' A number of comments have been lodged on Camden Council's planning portal, including one from a local who said they feared allowing the terrace would turn Primrose Hill into a 'modern day San Gimignano' - a Tuscan town famed for its skyline of medieval town houses. However, others have shown their support - with one commenter stating: 'I write to express my full support for this application and confirm that I have no objection to this decking system on the existing roof terrace. 'The works undertaken have been completed to a high standard and have materially improved the property's appearance. 'Such thoughtful investment contributes positively to the character of the surrounding area and is to be welcomed.' A housekeeper answered at the house last week and said the owners would be away for several weeks. Camden Council will decide on the application at a later date.