Neighbors in an exclusive London garden square are against the £11 million house being used as the Dominican Embassy. As reported in British press, it was only now that the Dominican mission had applied for the planning permission to use the eight-bedroom property on Gloucester Square, north of Hyde Park as base for the Embassy. The media report that the Dominican ambassador Federico Alberto Cuello Camilo and his family had moved there three years ago.
According to Westminster Council documents, its lawful use is of “a single family dwelling”.
Residents in the square, where three-bedroom flats sell for £4.2 million, urged the council to reject the application as it would set a precedent.
Ambassador Federico Alberto Cuello Camilo said he was unaware he needed to apply for a change of use until the Foreign and Commonwealth Office told him.
He said: “As of today, neither my family nor any permanent staff resides in the embassy and those few working do so between 9am and 4pm. The council indicated I will not be given planning permission, so I am looking for a new place.”
Read more:
Standard Co
28 February 2018
