Music icon Sir Paul McCartney has been instructed to plant a new tree in his residence following a disagreement with a neighbor at his luxurious home in St John’s Wood. Last year, the renowned musician sought permission to remove two sycamores from his central London townhouse, citing their declining condition and the need to create space for an adjacent hornbeam tree to flourish.
However, his neighbor Reinhold Meinen, a conservative activist and investor, raised concerns about the health of the trees, questioning whether they were indeed diseased. Mr. Meinen expressed his doubts to the council, emphasizing the need for further investigation before any action is taken. Notably, Mr. Meinen acquired the property adjacent to Sir Paul’s for £14.4 million in 2024, as per public records.
After some revisions to the initial plans, one sycamore will now be pruned back by 1.5 meters, while another will be removed entirely. Tracy Darke, the director of town planning and building control at Westminster City Council, has given the green light to the proposed tree works but recommended planting an Acer davidii (Père David’s maple tree) as a replacement for the felled sycamore.
In her report, Darke conveyed the council’s approval of the tree works within the St John’s Wood Conservation Area, suggesting the consideration of planting a new tree, specifically an Acer davidii. The revised specifications were acknowledged on February 3, 2026. It was emphasized that the records should be updated accordingly and the relevant personnel informed.
In a separate development, Sir Paul McCartney had to remove a diseased Catalpa tree from his London property after an inspection revealed fungal decay at the base, along with signs of deterioration in the trunk and roots. The Catalpa, also known as the Indian Bean Tree, is popular among garden enthusiasts in the UK but requires careful consideration of its planting location.
The musician had previously submitted plans for work on various trees in his garden, including a lime, holm oak, Catalpa, birch, hornbeam, and sycamore, all of which were approved. Being situated within a conservation area, McCartney’s garden trees necessitate permission for any alterations, a process that has been subject to scrutiny and regulation due to the area’s protected status.
With a history of disputes over tree maintenance, Sir Paul McCartney’s representatives have faced challenges in obtaining consent for previous tree works due to insufficient details provided to the council. However, subsequent applications, including the removal of four additional trees, were eventually sanctioned by the authorities.
Having purchased his three-story home in 1965 for £40,000, Sir Paul McCartney transformed it into a hub for The Beatles, serving as a meeting place before or after sessions at the nearby Abbey Road Studios.
