Rey Skywalker was defeated by the Empire. But Star Wars actress Daisy Ridley faces an even more challenging foe, historic conservationists.
The Force Awakens’ star has plans to rehabilitate a Grade II-listed house in North London with a leaky roof and make it’sympathetic.
The 29-year-old star, who played a lightsabre-wielding resistance fighter in the last three instalments of the sci-fi classic, bought the early-Victorian house, dating from 1845, for £1.85 million in August 2020.
The speculation was that the actress purchased it to have a child with Tom Bateman (32), whom she had met while filming Murder on The Orient Express 2017.
One year ago, she purchased the three-storey mid terrace in this sought-after area. Ms Ridley was given plans by her architects to submit them to the council.
DAISY CUTTER – Ms Ridley (pictured as Rey) was the star of three Star Wars movies
The property, which measures 1,500 sq. feet in area, was declared uninhabitable and required extensive reconstruction work to make it livable for future generations.
“Our client is determined to undertake the necessary repairs to this property in order to save it for another generation,” architects James Morse and Caroline Harte stated.
They want to make a single, family-oriented dwelling with traditional methods and materials. However, they also wish to extend the property to suit modern living.
Plans show an expanded ground floor that will include a kitchen and sitting area at the rear.
On the first floor is a brand new bedroom and bathroom. There’s also a master bedroom, bathroom, and loft on the second.
Additionally, the plan includes plans to create a 500-square-foot garden.
Members of the Conservation Area Advisory Committee consisting of civic societies, resident’s associations and history organizations, believe that the plans might not be up to their expectations. In response to the plans, the committee stated that they were concerned about the lack of a conservation engineering report.
The members warned that the underpinning of the whole structure could be a problem for neighbouring homes. They also noted that the light coming from the kitchen would cause light pollution in the back garden, which will allow light to shine upwards onto the rear façade, which may upset Ms Ridley’s neighbors.
The upgrade would have to be in compliance with the climate emergency measures through adequate insulation, and an assessment of the potential use of alternative energy sources.
Daisy Ridley’s early Victorian North London home is now derelict