Founder of cult footwear brand worn by Sabrina Carpenter and Gigi Hadid wins battle with council over plans to turn her £5m Belgravia townhouse into sprawling family home

The fashion mogul behind a brand admired by Sabrina Carpenter, Madonna and Gigi Hadid has defeated business-worthy planners who tried to block the renovation of her luxury townhouse with an outdoor pool in Belgravia.

Bronte Mance, the Australian-born co-founder of cult luxury shoe brand Naked Wolfe, has been refused permission to renovate her £5 million home in one of London’s most exclusive postcodes after Westminster Council branded the plans ‘excessive’.

The 33-year-old entrepreneur, whose brand is also used by Hailey Bieber, Ariana Grande and Kourtney Kardashian, wanted to create a large family home by combining his four-storey Georgian maisonette with a separate basement.

The proposed conversion also included a larger rear conservatory, replacement windows, landscaping works and an outdoor swimming pool in the garden.

But the pool plan has sparked anger from neighbors who claim it will disrupt the tranquility of the historic area and ruin what they describe as a rare ‘green oasis’ in the heart of London.

The anonymous objector said: ‘Whilst we appreciate the applicant’s desire to improve his home, we have real concerns about the impact this development will have on the surrounding residential environment.

‘The gardens in this part of Belgravia are close together and we currently enjoy a quiet, peaceful character.

‘They provide a precious green oasis in the heart of the city for residents to relax and enjoy tranquility, a unique feature of this historic area.

Image shows proposed changes to the rear of the property, located in one of London’s most exclusive postcodes

‘Building a swimming pool so close to neighboring gardens will inevitably increase noise levels from both general pool use, pump noises and associated meetings.

‘This would significantly change the quiet enjoyment neighbors currently experience.’

Westminster Council rejected the application, arguing that the scheme would eliminate a fully usable separate flat and create an oversized house of approximately 247 square metres.

He decided that swallowing the downstairs flat would cause an unnecessary loss of home.

In refusing permission, the council concluded: ‘The proposed amalgamation would result in a single over-sized dwelling.’

Ms. Mance founded Naked Wolfe with her brothers Cody and Cooper in Hong Kong in 2017.

The luxury brand has a flagship store in Mayfair, where its chunky platform boots worn by celebrities including Beyonce, Rihanna and Jenny Ortega sell for up to £600.

Ms Mance challenged the council’s refusal to grant planning permission and took her case to the independent Planning Inspectorate.

Shoe brand Naked Wolfe is loved by the likes of Sabrina Carpenter

Mrs Mance wants to create a spacious family home by combining her four-storey Georgian flat with a separate basement flat

This month he was told he had won his appeal, meaning he can now proceed with the luxury renovation of his townhouse.

Planning Inspector Ann Veevers said she had ‘no reason’ to reject the swimming pool plan and the council was wrong to prevent him from combining the basement with the maisonette.

He concluded: ‘As a single residential property, [the house] It would be big, but having three bedrooms isn’t unreasonable.’

Ms. Veevers decided that restoring the building close to its original historic plan tipped the balance in Ms. Mance’s favor.

The inspector also noted that the proposal is based on both II. It found that it would preserve the Grade II listed building as well as the character and appearance of the wider Belgravia Conservation Area.

Since its launch in 2017, Naked Wolfe has become one of the most recognized names in luxury footwear. It has kept up with the explosion in social media and developed a cult following among Gen Z shoppers.

Ms. Mance and her siblings were featured in Forbes’ annual 30 Under 30 magazine and opened a 7,000-square-foot flagship store on New Bond Street.

Their shoes are also stocked by heavyweight retailers such as Selfridges and Harrods.

Speaking previously about the company’s rapid growth, Ms Mance said Naked Wolfe had seen ‘nothing but exponential growth’ and ‘far more than any of us could have hoped for when we first started making shoe samples’.

The company’s website boasts: ‘Having amassed an early cult-like following in the millions and being among the most sought-after celebrities, the brand’s momentum has remained steady.

‘The brand has quickly become indispensable for celebrities. ‘Madonna, Hailey Bieber, Gigi & Bella Hadid, Rosalia, Sabrina Carpenter and many more celebrities are respected users of the brand.’

Forbes’ list of 30 groundbreaking young entrepreneurs under 30 in 2022 said: ‘In the first year, Ariana Grande, Gigi and Bella Hadid shook up the brand.

‘Just before Covid, they were selling $80 million worth of shoes worldwide. Their aim: to become a famous family fashion company like Gucci or Prada.’

Ms Mance and Westminster City Council have been approached for comment.