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Chelsea football club owner Roman Abramovich has bought a property once owned by the Russian Government and was used as a spy base during the Cold War. The property is in Kensington Palace Gardens and has extensive gardens as well as the world’s richest neighbours. The security at the property is phenomenal but it is the link to his roots that might have sealed the deal for the Russian oil tycoon. The property has fifteen bedrooms and was previously owned by a Belgian hedge fund manager. Pierre LaGrange bought the property from the Russian Government in 2004, paying £19million for the privilege although it was reported that the house was in an appalling state and had “radio rooms” for surveillance purposes, hardly an ideal family home. LaGrange and his wife Catherine then spent £20million in renovation work on the property but the mansion was still not big enough to house Catherine’s wardrobe. She was said to rent a property on Kensington Palace Mews simply for her winter wardrobe. Since Abramovich has bought from the LaGrange’s he has decided to renovate further. The basement of the property is to turned into a gym and spa, which will include a tennis court, and he will need a large garage to contain his six vintage Ferrari’s. He initially wanted to knock two homes into one at Lowndes Square which is just around the corner from the other exclusive address of One Hyde Park. The residents of Kensington Palace Gardens are pleased with his decision to live at the address as it adds to the prestige that the address attracts billionaires from all over the world. The security at the address is unparalleled as they have policemen stationed at either end of the Gardens and also the homes at the Gardens could only be described as mega-homes, many homes on the street are so big that often they are used as embassies for many countries. It is also close in proximity to Kensington Palace where Princess Diana lived and is now home to Kate and Wills when they are in town. Of the six richest people in the UK, Abramovich is the third to reside at this address alongside two other fellow Russians, Leonard Blavatnik and the steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal. The founder of Foxtons, John Hunt, also lives here and has had a basement renovated in his home. He excavated the ground beneath his front lawn and his new lower ground floor now contains a tennis court, a swimming pool and a car museum. http://www.uklandforsale.org http://www.buildingplotsforsale.org
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