A property developer in south-east London has sparked a neighbourhood dispute after installing a 3.1-metre section of the Berlin Wall in his garden, leading to a planning complaint to the local council.
Developer brings historic relic to Dulwich
Steven Thorpe, 65, purchased the concrete slab, which once divided East and West Berlin, and had it transported to his home in Dulwich. The piece, daubed with graffiti, now stands at the end of his garden and is visible from the road. Thorpe said he wanted a piece of history for his property.
“The original piece I wanted, they wouldn't sell me as it is going to go to an exhibition at Brandenburg Gate,” he explained. He later found an alternative section that he believed would fit perfectly in his garden.
Logistical challenges and neighbour backlash
Transporting the wall was a complex process. “It took an awful lot of wrangling to get it here. We had to get export licences and import licences, but we got it,” Thorpe said. “And because it weighs so much, we had to make a dolly to get it down and use lots and lots of machines and winches to get through the garden.”
However, the installation angered a neighbour. “Just as we finished putting it up, a neighbour asked 'what is that?'” Thorpe recounted. “I explained that it was a piece of the Berlin Wall and he said, 'You needed to ask my permission for that'. I didn't think I needed to.”
Council investigates planning complaint
The neighbour subsequently filed a complaint with Southwark Council, questioning whether the wall had the required planning permission. A council spokesperson said: “We have received a planning complaint about a section of wall installed in Dulwich. We will investigate the complaint and take any appropriate action in line with the national planning processes.”
The investigation will determine whether the Berlin Wall section can remain in place. The dispute highlights the potential for historical artefacts to cause modern-day divisions, even in a London garden.
