A resident in Herne Hill, South London, is currently at odds with Southwark Council after installing a significant section of the historic Berlin Wall in his garden. Steven Thorpe, a property developer, brought the piece of the wall from Siggelkow, Germany, aiming to preserve what he considers a crucial piece of 20th-century history. However, his efforts have led to a formal complaint from neighbours and a subsequent enforcement notice from the local authority.
Mr Thorpe stated that he acquired the 3.6-metre (12ft) chunk of the wall, which now stands approximately 3.1 metres (10ft) above ground level, having dug a pit to minimise its overall height. He also claims to have planted greenery around the installation to soften its visual impact on surrounding properties. Despite these measures, Southwark Council issued a letter dated 2 July, describing the installation as "unauthorised building works" that require planning permission.
The council's notice highlighted concerns from neighbouring properties, citing the structure's "overbearing scale, oppressive sense of enclosure and stark industrial appearance" as unacceptable. Mr Thorpe, however, maintains that he did not believe planning permission was necessary for what he views as an "artwork" or an "installation of a piece of historical architecture and art" within his private garden. He expressed his disappointment at the council's stance, having hoped to share the historical artefact with the public.
Mr Thorpe has a personal connection to the Berlin Wall, having visited Berlin regularly for rugby in the late 1980s and witnessing the wall's fall in 1989. He described the experience of seeing the city reunite and a symbol of division disappear as one of the defining moments of his lifetime. He had reportedly planned to open his garden to the public later this year to allow more people to view and learn about the segment of the wall.
The enforcement notice warns Mr Thorpe that failure to successfully obtain retrospective planning permission could result in a fine of up to £20,000. He is currently working "constructively" with the local authority and has invited a planning officer from Southwark Council, alongside a representative from the local landowner, the Dulwich Estate, to view the wall. He hopes their visit will lead to an agreement allowing the historic structure to remain in place.