George Michael’s Mansion Undergoes Curious Renovation Amid Protests
George Michael’s sister Yioda Panayiotou is renovating his Hampstead mansion, but neighbours protest tree removals. The house, once in disrepair, now flaunts new features including solar panels. While locals worry about wildlife habitats, Yioda is determined to restore its glory despite the drama.
George Michael’s grand Hampstead mansion is getting a good old sprucing up thanks to his sister, Yioda Panayiotou. She inherited this snazzy £10 million pad after George passed in 2016, and it sounds like she couldn’t wait to whip it back into shape. Michael bought the mansion back in ’87 and lived there until he started favouring his Oxfordshire country retreat — which, let’s be honest, does have its perks!
The poor place fell into a sorry state after he began practically using it as a crash pad. Photos from last year revealed a property in dire need of TLC, but Yioda, bless her, has rolled up her sleeves and dived into some significant renovations. Neighbours, on the other hand, have been anything but pleased with some of her plans.
Specifically, Yioda’s design team asked the local council for permission to chop down some ancient trees on the grounds because they were allegedly endangering the mansion itself. Cue the neighbourhood uproar! The Redington Frognal Neighbourhood Forum charged in with their objections, lamenting the loss of trees which are apparently vital for local wildlife and suggesting that some maintenance could, perhaps, wait until after nesting season? Logical, right?
They were particularly concerned about three forest trees that had mysteriously disappeared over the years, apparently leaving residents thinking the tree fairy had gone rogue. One particularly perturbed neighbour described the plans as “alarming and suspicious” — which does sound like a plot twist you’d find in a dramatized ITV series, doesn’t it?
Despite the grumbles from the locals, Yioda pressed on with her renovation crusade. Recent snaps show the mansion sporting gleaming new doors, shiny windows, and even a roof that’s now sporting solar panels! The once-unfortunate mansion has been resurrected to its former glory, with one of the garages now being transformed into a swanky living space.
Oh, and let’s not forget the house’s unfortunate history of break-ins while it was left unattended. In 2002, it was ransacked by burglars who made off with everything from designer clothes to family heirlooms. Talk about bringing new meaning to the phrase “bring your own swag”!
Before he died, George attempted to curb a development next door that threatened to turn the area into a residential nightmare, voicing concerns about the impact it would have on community vibes. His law firm famously spoke against it, stating that it could ruin the character of Hampstead, which is perhaps an understatement, to say the least.
As Yioda continues to mend what once was a glamorous retreat into the swish getaway it deserves to be, one can only hope it doesn’t turn into a hotbed for more burglaries, protests, or endless neighbourly squabbles. But hey, a little drama never really hurt anyone, right?
In short, Yioda Panayiotou is sprucing up George Michael’s once-neglected mansion amid a backdrop of neighbourly dissent. While Yioda aims for a restoration, locals are concerned about losing several historic trees. The mansion has undergone significant renovations, including solar panels and new accommodations, while George’s past battles with developers remind us that some legacies are hard to let go of. Let’s just hope this renovation doesn’t turn into a soap opera!
Original Source: www.express.co.uk
