JLS star Oritsé Williams’ former mansion has been transformed into a luxury home after it was damaged in a fire.
The singer lost around £2.5million after he sold his Croydon mansion for just £500,000 four years ago.
Yet, the new owners of the property are rebuilding and have already begun transforming the house.
The entire exterior of the house is being rebuilt, including the installation of new modern windows, while the roof, which was damaged in the fire, has been restored with maroon tiling.
Solar panels have also been installed on top of the property which is currently a building site.
The artist bought the house for £3million over a decade ago which used to be owned by Ronnie Corbett.
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However, a suspected arson attack destroyed the property.
The mansion had previously looked abandoned after the roof of the house had been destroyed by the fire and grass could be seen growing through the carpet of the hallway staircase.
Ariel’s photographs taken in 2020 showed a collapsed roof, blown-out windows and a charcoaled interior.
It is clear from the construction work that the new owners are keen to put their stamp on the house.
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The outdoor swimming pool and parts of the back garden are also undergoing redevelopment.
Inside the property, planning applications suggest it will include a games room, shrine and a cinema.
The London Borough of Croydon refused the owner’s application for a proposed rear extension and a pool house and said it was “inappropriate development”.
The new owners submitted another development application requesting permission for a new single-storey extension.
Colin Smith, 36, an urban explorer, had previously visited the £3million property after it had been destroyed in the fire.
His footage showed the full extent of damage the fire had done with a solid marble countertop one of the only things recognisable in a sea of rubble.
A safe for valuables also survived the fire but upstairs had been completely gutted.
More than 70 firefighters tackled the blaze that engulfed Oritsé Williams’ house in 2019.
Luckily, no one was injured but police launched an investigation after revealing they were treating the fire as suspicious.
However, police couldn’t connect anyone to a potential arson attack and the investigation was closed.
Ronnie Corbett’s Widow, Anne Hart, said she had considered buying the property where she had lived for 33 years but was left devastated once she learnt it had been damaged.
“I’m heartbroken and Ronnie would be too,” she said.
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Councillor Robert Ward, who represents Selsdon and Addington Village on Croydon Council admitted that he was delighted to see the property being restored after it had been left “derelict for some time”.
Who is Oritsé Williams?
Oritse Williams, 37, is a singer-songwriter and record producer from London.
He soared to success with bandmates Aston Merrygold, Marvin Humes and JB Gill as their group, JLS, became one of the breakout acts of 2008.
They shot to fame after finishing runners-up on X Factor
Oritse was the founding member, teaming up with Marvin who had music business experience.
The band had four UK top three albums as well as five UK number one singles.
After releasing a greatest hits compilation in late 2013, followed by a farewell arena tour across the UK, the group split, playing their final gig at the 02 in London in December 2013.
The band reunited last year in what was their biggest tour in the groups career.
JLS sold more than 10million records across the world and were at one point the UK’s biggest boyband.
When was Oritsé Williams cleared of rape?
On September 12, 2018, Oritse was charged with raping a fan.
He and a friend were accused of a sex attack in 2016 on a waitress, 20, after a Wolverhampton gig. He denied it.
On May 28, 2019, the singer was unanimously cleared of rape at Wolverhampton Crown Court after around two hours and 17 minutes of deliberation.
His tour manager Jamien Nagadhana was also cleared of two sexual assault charges.
The alleged incident is said to have taken place after a concert at the Gorgeous Club to promote his solo album Waterline at Ramada Park Hall hotel.
Williams, of Croydon, South London, pleaded not guilty to rape during a court hearing in November last year.
Nagadhana, also 32, from Hounslow, West London, denied a charge of assault by penetration.
