Cameron forced to remove turbine

The wind turbine was only put up last week

Conservative leader David Cameron has had to remove his wind turbine from his west London home's roof because it was put up in the wrong place.

Builders only attached it to a wall last week but planning permission specified that it must be put on a nearby chimney stack.

Now builders have taken it down before Kensington and Chelsea Borough Council could pursue any enforcement action.

Some neighbours had objected to the turbine saying it was an eyesore.

A council spokesman said: "The council is in correspondence with the owner of the property and is discussing plans to resolve the issue.

"We understand the contractors had some concerns about the chimney stack fixings not being able to cope with the wind loading caused by the turbine.

"We are in conversation with the owners of the property and are confident that the matter will be resolved."

Planning rules

When the planning committee approved the plan it imposed a size limit on the turbine and said it must be grey to make it unobtrusive.

They also told Mr Cameron, whose home lies in a conservation area, he must renew the planning permission after three years.

Planning committee member Daniel Moylan said he was unaware of the status of Mr Cameron's turbine, but added: "We give planning permission - people who follow it are fine and people who don't follow it aren't."

Architect Alex Michaelis has said that the turbine and solar panels would contribute to more than 30% of Mr Cameron's energy bills.

The domestic turbine, thought to be one of only hundreds in the UK, has been used to help demonstrate Mr Cameron's commitment to green issues.