Jump directly to the content
GRAND DESIGNS

Grand Tour and ex-Top Gear star James May knocks down two homes to build £3m mega-home to house fleet of supercars

He is said to be combining two neighbouring properties to make the larger pad

GRAND Tour and ex-Top Gear presenter James May has bulldozed two homes to create a £3m mega-house to hold his fleet of supercars and motorbikes.

The 56-year-old is believed to have moved out of his Hammersmith, West London, home, while the work is ongoing - as the project is set to take more than a year.

James May is said to have knocked down two homes to combine the space for a larger house to be built
9
James May is said to have knocked down two homes to combine the space for a larger house to be builtCredit: Rex Features
Two houses are said to have been demolished to make way for the new mega-house in West London
9
Two houses are said to have been demolished to make way for the new mega-house in West LondonCredit: Darren Fletcher - The Sun
The area in red shows the part of May's property that has been bulldozed as work begins
9
The area in red shows the part of May's property that has been bulldozed as work begins
The properties owned by May before they were knocked down
9
The properties owned by May before they were knocked down

He has put his extensive collection of cars and bikes to a garage nearby,

It is claimed he has demolished the home he bought in 2000 and a neighbouring house he purchased five years ago for £310k and plans to combine them.

His vast collection of 40 motorbikes, a Porsche 911, limited edition Ferrari 458 Speciale, Fiat Panda and a Rolls-Royce were being stored in the semi-derelict property bought in 2014.

But the new home is thought to be six per cent larger than his current home, with space for all the vehicles.

Neighbours have praised how the TV star has gone about the planning and build up to the building work.

One told the MailOnline: "I couldn't wish for a better neighbour than James. He is a delight and has involved us all at every step of the way.

And his next-door-neighbour Cathy Lewis added: "James has been really good and given us lots of information. This will be really good for our street, will be a big improvement on what was there before and the designs are sympathetic to the area.

"We know it will take a long time with a lot of disruption, but so far, the builders have been great. The new house will look fabulous."

This is a massive job. It will take more than a year to finish, but we are making good progress.

Builder working on James May's home

The planning permission was given to May in 2016, but he has made adjustments since then as he took in residents' views on the project.

It is said he has gone to great length to make sure the new house will fit in with the area, in which there are some houses from the 1840s.

The plans were approved as a change of use of one property from commercial use to residential, demolition of the properties to rebuild into one two-story building with a garage on the ground floor.

One of the builders said: "This is a massive job. It will take more than a year to finish, but we are making good progress. We are trying hard to be nice to the neighbours and James is a delight to work for."

May will move into the finished mega-home with his partner Sarah Frater - who he has been with since 2000.

Sarah is an art critic and is good friends with May's co-host Richard Hammond's wife Mindy.

MOST READ IN NEWS

Bus driver & sick wife died with their 2 Daschshunds when car plunged 300ft
CLIFF TRAGEDY

Bus driver & sick wife died with their 2 Daschshunds when car plunged 300ft

Dad-of-two placed in coma after he 'caught rare disease at dirty 4-star hotel'
HOLS HORROR

Dad-of-two placed in coma after he 'caught rare disease at dirty 4-star hotel'

3-hour flight turns into horror 32-HOUR saga as 'passengers left vomiting'
FLIGHT FROM HELL

3-hour flight turns into horror 32-HOUR saga as 'passengers left vomiting'

Riots erupt after boys appear in court with Romanian interpreter over ‘sex attack’
CARNAGE

Riots erupt after boys appear in court with Romanian interpreter over ‘sex attack’

May is currently filming in Japan for a new show on Amazon Prime Video.

He will travel across all of Japan from north to south in a bid to know more about the land and its people, why they are the way they are, what drives their culture and what the rest of the world can learn about their approach to life.

May, who previously co-hosted BBC Two's Top Gear from 2003 until 2015, moved to Amazon Prime Video with his co-stars for their new motoring series The Grand Tour in 2016.

Building work has begun on the project, which is expected to take more than a year
9
Building work has begun on the project, which is expected to take more than a yearCredit: Darren Fletcher - The Sun
May has been consulting with residents since 2016 over the proposal to ensure everyone was happy with the plans
9
May has been consulting with residents since 2016 over the proposal to ensure everyone was happy with the plansCredit: Darren Fletcher - The Sun
He is part of the trio who presented Top Gear and The Grand Tour
9
He is part of the trio who presented Top Gear and The Grand TourCredit: Getty - Contributor
The new property was given planing permission in 2016 - with the TV host making sure neighbours were happy
9
The new property was given planing permission in 2016 - with the TV host making sure neighbours were happy
The larger house is said to be six per cent larger and will be able to contain his fleet of vehicles
9
The larger house is said to be six per cent larger and will be able to contain his fleet of vehicles
James May left Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond behind as he heads alone to Japan for a six part travel series

We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368. You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.

YOU MIGHT LIKE
RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
MORE FOR YOU