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Left in the dark over new flats
Anger as flats are deprived of light and views are ruined by new development
A DEVELOPMENT close to a block of luxury flats in Marylebone will leave dozens of tenants shrouded in darkness.
Leaseholders at Knighton House in Mortimer Street handed in a petition to the council a fortnight ago claiming original plans for an “office refurbishment” had become a “major demolition and rebuild”.
Planning permission was granted in 2005 for a six-storey building in the block’s private courtyard.
Residents claim 30 lives will be blighted by the controversial two-year development – including a man fighting cancer and a mother whose baby son spent the first six months of his life away from home because of the noise.
The petition, delivered to the Lord Mayor in the Council House, lists a catalogue of “failures” including:
* Failure to provide an accurate description of the proposed works during the planning permission process.
* Failure to take into account the objections that properties are now overlooked.
* Failure in particular to take into account the needs of the residents whose balconies are now plunged into darkness.
* Residents living with constant shaking of the building caused by this work.
Charlotte Thorne said she had to move away because of constant drilling.
She said: “They have begun filling in the courtyard.
“I used to look out at nothing but now it’s going to be a brick wall.
“We are all depressed.”
She added: “It shows that even if you own your own home it can be taken away at any time – and there is nothing you can do about it.
“I do not think the councillors knew what they were approving.”
Ms Thorne said she was surprised that Great Portland Estates, who own the freehold to the building, had given the green light to their subsidiary, Knighton Estates, to do the work.
Great Portland Estates were unavailable for comment at time of going to press. |
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