ARTISTS FIGHT TO SAVE AIR STUDIOS IN LONDON

Businessman Andrew Jeffreys hoping to increase scale of his £10m home

Has submitted plans to install two basements with cinema, sauna and pool

Excavation would bring property within a metre of the iconic AIR Studios

Artists argue that as such the silence needed for recording would be ruined

Council has received 800 letters against it while petition has 10,000 names

George Michael, Brian May and Joanna Lumley have joined a host of top British artists in signing a petition opposing a wealthy businessman's plan to build an underground cinema and leisure complex just yards from one of the country's most prized recording-studios.

Businessman Andrew Jeffreys has applied for planning permission to vastly increase the scale of his £10million London home.

In installing dual iceberg basements beneath his sizeable four-storey Georgian mansion, the multi-millionaire chief executive of research and consultancy firm the Oxford Business Group will be able to add a swimming pool, sauna and hot tub to his sprawling estate.

The artists fighting against the excavation argue that the proposed underground extensions (pictured, in red) would shatter the silence required to allow musicians to obtain a flawless, unbroken recording within the studio's cavernous production suite - set within an ancient Victorian chapel

However, by doing so, he would bring the outer reaches of his property to within less than a metre of the walls of the Air Studios, a north London venue described as a 'a jewel in Europe's music industry'.

The artists fighting against the excavation argue that such an extension would shatter the silence required to allow musicians to obtain a flawless, unbroken recording within the studio's cavernous production suite - set within an ancient Victorian chapel.

More than 10,000 people have already signed their names to a petition against Mr Jeffreys planning application.

However, sixteen powerful voices from British music and film today submitted a letter to The Telegraph which outlined their stance against the proposals.

Also featuring the signatures of composers Hans Zimmer and David Arnold, director Tim Burton and Sir George Martin, the Beatles' producer and founder of Air Studios, the appeal read: 'Air Studios, which secures employment for hundreds of musicians every week, is one of London's two principal recording studios with full orchestral capacity.

'It is a pre-eminent destination for the global film industry, and is pivotal to the £1.4 billion annual contribution of the film sector to the UK economy.

'Underground excavations (likely to exceed a year) will bring risks to the Grade II listed building, and will critically affect Air's need for silence, the prerequisite for such specialised recording. At huge cost, Air is forced to prove the threats to its business.

'The applicants are unable to prove lack of risk in their plans and their exploratory drilling (an archaeological requirement) has already vividly demonstrated the acoustical risks.

Air Studios has played host to the likes of Sir Paul McCartney, Coldplay and U2. It is housed in Lyndhurst Hall in Hampstead, north London.

It is considered a vital part of Britain's film industry because it is one of only two venues in the capital capable of housing a full symphony orchestra. Such is demanded by many film score composers. 

Camden Council have already received letters from more than 800 people opposing the plans, which were first submitted in April last year. Ten thousand people have also added their signatures to an online petition.

Paul Woolf, joint owner of the studios, told The Telegraph that the company has already forked out £25,000 on architectural reports and legal fees to help fight the plans.

They expect that they will have to invest the same amount again after the Jeffreys submitted new proposals on New Year's Eve. 

Mr Woolf is quoted as saying: 'If they get the consent they are asking for, this could be fatal. Our expert reports show that the combination of the dust, the noise, the underground movement, the movement of water, will all have massive impact.'

The letter's signatories claim that if the development is given the green light, the studio may be forced to cease recording. That would result in million pound losses as Hollywood composers go elsewhere. 

Mr Jeffreys has chosen not to comment.

A statement released by his architect, Thomas Croft, insisted he and his family 'no desire to cause any needless disruption'.

Mr Croft added: 'Again we stress that if Air will sit down with us we are sure we can find ways around any concerns they may have so that the building work can take place whilst the studio remains open.'

A Camden Council spokesman said: 'The Council is seeking to ensure that the necessary technical assessment has been made for it to be satisfied that the basement can be constructed without harm to neighbouring buildings, ground conditions and the water environment.'

 

FIGHTING AGAINST 'THE SELFISH AGGRANDISEMENT OF BASEMENT EXTENSIONS': THE ARTISTS' LETTER IN FULL

A planning application in Hampstead threatens the very existence of a jewel in Europe's music industry.

Founded by Sir George Martin, Air Studios, which secures employment for hundreds of musicians every week, is one of London's two principal recording studios with full orchestral capacity. It is a pre-eminent destination for the global film industry, and is pivotal to the £1.4 billion annual contribution of the film sector to the UK economy.

Despite over 800 written and 10,000 e-petitioned objections, Camden's planning department has, for eight months, been forced to consider repeated iterations of the application, none made with any consultation to Air, from neighbours wishing to excavate two huge basements (for a pool, cinema, gym,wet room) right next to the studio.

Among objectors are top composers, producers and musicians who highlight the centrality of Air to the UK's film and music business.

Underground excavations (likely to exceed a year) will bring risks to the Grade II listed building, and will critically affect Air's need for silence, the prerequisite for such specialised recording. At huge cost, Air is forced to prove the threats to its business. The applicants are unable to prove lack of risk in their plans and their exploratory drilling (an archaeological requirement) has already vividly demonstrated the acoustical risks.

Camden's tardiness in rejecting these applications creates uncertainties for Air's substantial timetable of bookings. Contracts, and the livelihoods of thousands, once lost will never be recovered.

Overdue changes to planning rules must be made to protect businesses as well as homes plagued by the selfish aggrandisement of such basement extensions.

Sir David Hare, Playwright;  Sir Neville Marriner, Founder Director, Academy of St Martin in the Fields; Hans Zimmer, Composer; Brian May, Guitarist, Queen; John Smith, General Secretary, Musicians' Union; David Arnold, Composer; Sir George Martin, Founder, Air Studios; Giles Martin, Record producer; George Michael, Singer; Stephen Warbeck, Composer; Maggie Rodford, Managing Director, Air-Edel Group; Tim Burton, Film Director; Howard Goodall, Composer; Joanna Lumley, Actress, author; Music Producers Guild; British Film Commission