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Vine Cottage: ‘Things are looking positive’ |
Crumbling cottage at heart of planning row
Renewed bid to build home in sought-after street
IT is in one of the most desirable roads in Hampstead, where homes command seven-figure prices.
So semi-derelict Vine Cottage, at the corner of Gayton Road and Hampstead High Street, has long been an oddity – a roofless building, dating in parts from the 1700s, and empty for more than four years.
But it could soon be demolished and a sought-after town house built on the site if a developer wins a legal challenge against the Town Hall.
The previous owner, Ines Cardoso, poured a small fortune into converting the home, but did not apply for planning permission and left to live in South America before work was finished.
After the Town Hall spent months chasing her, she eventually sold the property. Last year, its then owner, Barry McKay, drew up detailed plans for a four-bed home with a basement on the site, before selling it on to new owners in January.
The application, lodged last year, was rejected partly because planners feared the new basement would damage a tree in the street. It was felt the new building would be too big and that materials to be used were not in keeping with the conservation area.
Planners said proposals for a south-facing roof terrace would invade neighbours’ privacy.
Architect Graeme Williamson, who has been working on the project, said an appeal against the planners’ decision was being prepared. In case the appeal fails, his practice has drawn up a second planning application to address some of the issues raised.
“When we put in the first application we had wide support,” he said. “It was a beautiful contemporary house in the conservation area. Our stance has always been not to build a pastiche. It has to be contextual. But things are looking positive for Vine Cottage.”
He added that an expert had advised that the tree which planners were concerned about would have to be replaced in the near future, so the basement plans would have no real effect on it.
Gordon McLean, from the Heath and Hampstead Society, said it had been happy with the original application – which he described as “a distinguished design and a good replacement for this historic street” – although it had been opposed by Gayton Road Residents Association.
But he said the second planning application was not acceptable. “We would be perfectly happy to see it [Vine Cottage] demolished,” he said. “There is no point in trying to retain what exists – it’s gone far beyond restoration.
“However, the new plans include two basement levels. It would kill a street tree and we have a policy of opposing basements.” |
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