Lib-Dem donor angers neighbours with plan for two-story basement with cinema and pool

A Lib-Dem donor has been blasted by his Belgravia neighbours over his “grotesque” plans for a two-storey basement under his £20 million townhouse.

Bhanu Choudhrie, who describes himself as an “entrepreneur and philanthropist”, was given the green light for the works a year after he was arrested by the Serious Fraud Office.

He was questioned with his father, tycoon Sudhir Choudhrie, as part of the agency’s probe into Rolls-Royce’s overseas business practices. Both men denied any wrongdoing and say they are cooperating with the authorities.

Last week, Westminster council approved Mr Choudhrie’s plans to dig beneath the six-storey home and mews house to build a cinema and leisure complex, including a large pool.

One next-door neighbour, a mother whose family have lived in the area for three generations, said: “This is all that’s grotesque in the world. Nobody lives here and there’s nothing left.”

Brian Callan, a property manager who lives opposite, said: “We are pretty powerless to stop it. It was a nightmare when the last people did it so I expect it will be again with lorries going up and down the street, but unfortunately it’s just part of London living.”

The plans include a steam room, sauna and treatment room in the basement, all accessed by lift. Mr Choudhrie will also demolish a conservatory to the rear of the Grade II-listed property and replace it with a dining room, family room and roof terrace overlooking the mews home, which houses two employees and a gym.

The businessman lives at the property with his wife Simrin, an interior designer, and their young son. In 2011 Mrs Choudhrie posed as a penniless pregnant woman to appear on Channel 4’s Secret Millionaire, in which she donated £100,000 to a centre for vulnerable people in Sheffield.

A spokesman for the Choudhries said: “Planning permission has been granted and that’s that. As far as the SFO investigation goes they have not been interviewed or talked to again.”

An SFO spokesman said: “No charges have been brought as yet.”

Mr Choudhrie is CEO at family business C&C Alpha Group, which runs care homes in the UK. He, his father and their affiliated companies have given more than £1 million to the Lib Dems in the past decade.