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Alan Chappelow |
Neighbours fight murdered OAP home development
WHEN the body of Alan Chappelow was discovered hidden in a back room of his crumbling Hampstead home three years ago, neighbours were united in grief.
But now the fate of Mr Chappelow’s Grade II-listed house has divided Downshire Hill, after one of his neighbours who has bought the property for a rumoured £4.2million drew up plans that it is claimed will damage nearby Georgian properties.
Tony Joseph, who lives a few doors away, wants to dig out a living and kitchen room, a utility room, a toilet, an office and a new terrace area beneath the house. Below that, a cinema, swimming pool, changing rooms, and showers are proposed. Architects employed by Mr Joseph’s company, Ringline Properties, say the house will appear from the street to be an exact replica of what stood there for nearly 200 years.
But Stephen Ainger, of the Downshire Hill Residents Association, said: “Half the houses in the street have raised objections. We have spoken to Tony and tried to indicate what changes to his plans would be acceptable to us. We simply don’t want such a large basement. Nothing would please us more than to reach a compromise.”
The association employed a geology expert from Imperial College and a structural engineer. Their findings state that digging out 4,000-cubic square metres of earth will lead to a “dam” effect, with underground culverts and streams re-directed, causing flooding and subsidence.
The house was owned by the Chappelow family from 1930. But despite attempts by English Heritage and the council to speak with Mr Chappelow over the state of the property, nothing was done. Mr Chappelow was found dead in the summer of 2006. Neighbour Wang Yam, a former Beijing University professor, was found guilty of his murder.
The home was on English Heritage’s At Risk register for more than 10 years and was also gutted by fire during the police investigation. The Heath and Hampstead society’s objections have been backed by the Hampstead and Belsize Park conservation area advisory committees, the Pilgrims to Willoughby Residents Association and the Church Row Association, as well as 76 letters from other neighbours.
A decision on the scheme will be made by the council’s planning committee tonight (Thursday). |
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