Artist’s impression of the planned new home Brothers Alex and Thalis Vlachos The existing Garden House

Wealthy twins win right to build £3m Heath home

Conservationists poised to mount challenge to planners’ decision

IT is a peaceful enclave on the fringes of Hampstead Heath, an exclusive address where homes cost millions and owners fiercely protect their way of life.
But the Vale of Health has become the centre of a bitter wrangle between twin brothers determined to build their dream bachelor pad and their neighbours, who say the plans will ruin their peace.
Alex and Thalis Vlachos, 32, live in the Garden House in the Vale, the hidden valley off East Heath Road that was once home to writer Leigh Hunt and Ali G comedian Sacha Baron Cohen.
Their home, which they bought three years ago from the family of their godfather, Hector Temperos, for £437,500, is a ramshackle 1950s red brick building – and the pair want to build in its place an eye-catching contemporary house worth up to £3 million.
Their plans include a terrace overlooking the Heath, five bedrooms and an underground swimming pool.
Town Hall planning chiefs gave the brothers the go-ahead on Thursday despite protests from neighbours and conservation groups who say the new plans mean the loss of green space and therefore break planning laws. The Heath and Hampstead Society is planning to apply for a judicial review of the decision.
Neighbours, who did not wish to be named, say the brothers – both solicitors – enjoy a lively social life. One told the New Journal of parties that went on into the night and spoke of streams of young women attending.
They added that the brothers “camp” in the house and that the property has been allowed to become rundown.
The brothers admit they throw the occasional party and say: “We are young guys. We have friends and it’s our birthday in July, so, yes, we may have the odd party. If anyone wants to come, they should let us know.”
They add that they have spent money decorating the existing house and done work outside.
They have been visiting the house, which has a garden that runs down to the edge of a pond, since they were children.
Thalis added: “It has always been like a home to us. We used to mess around in the garden. We like the Vale of Health and love the property. We just want to upgrade the home.”
But the brothers are facing a legal challenge from the Heath and Hampstead Society, the Vale of Health Society and Hampstead Conservation Area Advisory Committee (CAAC), which have joined forces to fight the plans.
They argue that the house is on Metropolitan Open Land – the equivalent of an urban green belt – and is protected from large-scale development. With the new home due to be bigger, conservationists say the scheme should have been thrown out.
But planning officers agreed with the twins’ architects that the new home was acceptable and building work is expected to start soon.
Martin Humphery, chairman of Hampstead CAAC, said: “The decision was perverse. It ran counter to the government and the council’s own planning guidelines, specifically that any replacement building must not be materially larger.” He added: “It now opens up very dangerous possibilities of other green sites being developed”