GEORGE Michael’s sister has won a planning battle over his crumbling £10m mansion despite angry complaints from conservation groups and neighbours.
The late singer's only living sibling, Yioda Panayiotou, has been granted permission to chop down historic trees at the “rundown” property.
She is currently undertaking extensive renovation work at the £10m home in Hampstead, London, which had fallen into disrepair with recent photos showing it in a dilapidated state.
Yioda took ownership of the property after her brother died aged 53 on Christmas Day in 2016 and left the bulk of his £98 million fortune to his two sisters. His sibling Melanie passed away just three years later.
Her design team applied to Camden Council to remove a number of trees and prune others at the front and rear of the property, which is in a conservation area.
But the plans faced fierce resistance from an angry neighbour and the community group, Redington Frognal Neighbourhood Forum [RFNF], which called the application "regrettable" and "very concerning".
However, the council has given the go-ahead anyway, stating in its delegated report that the trees are “not visible”, “not of cultural or historical importance” and not an “unusual species”.
In two letters sent within a space of a few days, the RFNF said in the first that "any loss of mature trees which provide habitat for wildlife is regrettable. The need for maintenance is neighbourhood recognised, but should not be undertaken during the nesting season".
They added that the trees are of particular importance as the estate is "in an area with much underground water".
They also asked that "all felled trees and shrubs are replaced with native species providing high value to wildlife".
Yet four days later, after reviewing previous planning applications which included tree felling, it lambasted the plans.
"Having now checked the history of intent to fell notifications over the past years, it is very concerning that three mature forest trees have been lost: two poplars and a sycamore.
"The Neighbourhood Forum would like to suggest that the current works should include the replacement of two of the previously felled poplars. They would be ideal for helping to address surface water runoff in such a wet area, in addition to providing valuable wildlife habitat.
“In the light of this history, its would be appreciated if the previous comment could be amended to an objection," stated the group, which was "established for the express purpose of promoting or improving the social, economic and environmental well being of the area".
George raked in huge sums over the years, with his accounts showing he earned more than £48million from touring between April 2006 and March 2008 alone.
He used his money to invest heavily in art, buying up pieces by Banksy, Damien Hirst and Tracey Emin.
He also owned numerous properties including the £5million house in Oxfordshire where he died, a £2.5million home in Los Angeles and a £3.5m beach house in Sydney.
Yioda's plans for his London home include flattening a “leaning" eight-metre high Hollie and an 11-metre evergreen Thuja tree, which is “growing within close proximity of the building".
Plus a 13-metre Mature Leyland Cypress, which is "fast growing” and in "fairly close proximity to the building".
Yioda’s team also want to trim down a massive sycamore which is hanging over the garages. They’ve asked to reduce the 18-metre size and remove dead wood.
This is described as "controlling encroachment" or "general maintenance".
In May, Yioda got the green light from the council to transform the house, which had fallen into disrepair over the last decade.
She's having a new roof, solar panels, new doors and windows, decking, and one of the garages is being turned into living quarters.
