In a tale that’s unfolded in the corridors of the High Court, a wealthy property mogul has reached a resolution with his neighbors over a contentious gate access issue.
Mark Harrison, the CEO of a £1.2 billion property management firm called Praxis, stirred up quite a bit of drama after purchasing a grand mansion for £8.5 million, which once belonged to the late Lady Grantchester.
The History of the Mansion
Lady Grantchester, who passed away at 93 in February 2019, was an heir to the Moores family’s Littlewoods pools fortune.
Since acquiring the 10-bedroom property in Kingston-upon-Thames in 2020, Mr. Harrison has invested heavily in refurbishing the estate, including a lavish £500,000 renovation of the sprawling 3.5-acre garden complete with a pool and tennis courts.
Tensions Rise with Neighbors
However, not all has been smooth sailing for Mr. Harrison.
He soon found himself embroiled in a dispute with some neighbors regarding access to the back of his property through a private road called Coombe Ridings.
This disagreement escalated into a legal battle that took center stage in London’s High Court, with Mr. Harrison suing the residents’ association that manages the road.
The Legal Claims
Mr. Harrison asserted his right to use Coombe Ridings to access local parks on foot, as well as for deliveries and services related to his home, known as the Gate House.
The residents’ association, however, vehemently opposed this claim, stating that he had no right to use their road.
His barrister, Oliver Radley-Gardner, argued that the Gate House was built before Coombe Ridings was established as a private road and that larger vehicles could only access the mansion through the rear due to a narrow entrance from the front.
He contended that the back access was not only convenient for deliveries but had historically served as a secondary entrance for workers and guests.
Neighbors Push Back
The conflict intensified as construction and renovation work began on the mansion, leading to increased traffic that annoyed some neighbors.
The residents’ association claimed that any rights of way had been sold off by the Grantchesters in the 1960s, leaving Mr. Harrison with no legal basis to claim access to Coombe Ridings.
In court, Radley-Gardner maintained that historical documents supported a general right of way for the Gate House, emphasizing that for nearly 60 years, previous owners had operated under the assumption that such a right existed.
He noted that various activities, including the use of gardeners and pool maintenance, had consistently relied on this access.
The Residents’ Counterargument
In response, barrister Nathaniel Duckworth, representing the residents’ association, accused Mr. Harrison’s team of attempting to reinterpret contractual agreements.
He argued that the frequency and nature of access to Coombe Ridings didn’t justify a prescriptive right and that any use had been minimal, mostly limited to accommodating gardeners whose vehicles couldn’t fit through the main entrance.
Settlement and Ongoing Issues
While the details of the settlement will be formalized later, this isn’t the first legal skirmish surrounding Mr. Harrison’s mansion.
Earlier this year, he was involved in another High Court case regarding a dispute with a landscape gardener over unpaid bills.
Reports emerged of him allegedly issuing menacing threats to the gardener, which he later claimed were taken out of context and expressed frustration over losing a significant business opportunity with the Duke of Westminster.
Mr. Harrison has expressed his intention to appeal against a previous ruling that found him to have exhibited seriously threatening behavior towards the gardener.
As the dust settles from these disputes, it remains to be seen how this saga will unfold in the future.