Friday January 13, 2012

ZEINAB Badawi, the BBC news presenter, has won a planning battle with the Town Hall after councillors decided against forcing her to take down an extension at her Belsize Park home.

Ms Badawi had been warned she might have to take down the dormer add-on at her house near Haverstock Hill because it did not have planning permission.

Planning officials had advised the council's development committee they should take enforcement action.

Last night (Thursday), the award-winning journalist was at the Town Hall to see councillors, who hold the final say, approve the building work, which cost Ms Badawi around £50,000.

Ms Badawi had told the council that she had sought advice before she had even bought the house and was advised verbally by council staff that the extension would not contravene the rules. Later, planning officials began investigating the work and decided it had broken guidelines.

See full story in Thursday's New Journal