George Harrison’s son has been granted planning permission to develop the late Beatles legend’s estate. Grammy award-winning musician Dhani Harrison, 46, had applied to South Oxfordshire District Council to build a new property at Friar Park in Henley-on-Thames, which George bought in 1970.
Friar Park has been the Harrison family home for decades and was also where George survived being stabbed 40 times by Michael Abram in 1999. The property was also said to have inspired his first solo album following The Beatles’ 1970 split, ‘All Things Must Pass’.
The album featured its lawn on the cover with the guitarist surrounded by four gnomes – thought by many to represent each member of the band. Dhani’s plans included amendments to previous consent granted to George’s widow Olivia Harrison four years ago to build a home on a disused tennis court at Friar Park.
They include amendments to the detailing, the addition of a plant room and adjustments to the windows and openings. In approving the application, South Oxfordshire District Council planners wrote: “The amended proposal continues to comply with the relevant Development Plan policies and national planning guidance.
“The District Council is satisfied that the proposed development is of an appropriate scale and design within the context of the site and that the scheme would preserve the overall character of the registered park and garden, the setting of Friar Park and the character and appearance of the Henley Conservation Area. There are no overriding landscape, ecological, amenity or highway safety issues.”
The approval notice added: “The currently proposed changes are generally minor cosmetic alterations. No significant changes are proposed to the siting or overall scale of the approved development.
“The changes to the approved plans, when considered individually and cumulatively, would not compromise the design quality of the original scheme. Moreover, the overall character of the registered park and garden and the setting of Friar Park will not be harmed by the current proposal.”
Planning permission was granted four years ago to Olivia for a new two bedroom oak framed home on the site of a disused tennis court. It included a kitchen diner, lounge, utility and music room on the ground floor and two bedrooms, two bathrooms and two further rooms on the first floor.
Some of the planned alterations now given approval include adding three dragon finials, removing a clock tower, changing square windows to round ones and adding French doors.
In a statement to support the application, representatives for Harrison wrote: “When granting permission for the dwelling, South Oxfordshire District Council evaluated the potential impact of the new dwelling and determined that the development is suitable for its location within the Grade II Listed grounds of the Grade. II listed Friar Park.
“The council concluded that the size, scale, and design of the permitted dwelling would not detract from the heritage assets, the Henleyon Thames Conservation Area or Friar Park. This application addresses the alterations to the dwelling that differ from the approved plans.
“The changes primarily concern the details of the windows and minor modifications to the building’s elevations. These alterations would not result in significant alterations that would have an adverse impact on the Henley-on-Thames Conservation Area, the Grade II listed Friar Park or the Grade II Listed Park and Garden.
“The development’s location remains unchanged, situated in an area of the grounds that provides minimal visibility and intervisibility with the existing dwelling and the value of the park and garden. Furthermore, these changes do not affect the designed views within the setting of Friar Park.”
The Victorian estate was reportedly weeks away from being bulldozed when it was bought by George when he was 27-years-old. George and Olivia helped transform the gardens back to their former glory into what are now regarded as some of Britain’s finest.
It hit the headlines when Abram broke into the house and stabbed George – leaving him with serious injuries. The attacker was later sentenced to life in a secure hospital unit.