Reply to comment

Published: 7th April, 2011
by DAN CARRIER

THE childhood home of London Mayor Boris Johnson could be changed beyond recognition if its new owners win permission for an overhaul.

The house in Regent’s Park Road, Primrose Hill, is the subject of a planning application to create a new gym and cinema beneath its back garden. 

Both Mr Johnson and his father Stanley have said that the proposals, which have been fiercely opposed by residents in the area, should not ruin the home they still hold affection for.

Mr Johnson, who lived there until he was eight, told the New Journal of idyllic days spent playing in the property’s back garden.

The designs registered at the Town Hall show a new basement stretching out underneath the back garden that would also  feature a bedroom and bathroom. 

A spiral staircase at its foot would link it to an existing garden house. Other touches include insulation in the roof to cut emissions and a ground-floor rear extension. 

The new lower ground floor, which has al­ready had planning permission granted, will include a combined kitchen, dining room and sitting room with dual aspect windows. The ground floor will boast a slightly smaller room which the architect’s plans describe as a reception room. 

Mr Johnson said: “That was a lovely house. I loved playing in the garden – there was a lot of mudpie-making done in the flower beds. 

“I have very happy memories of  what we did there. I recall having breakfast one morning in the basement and I made a joke: it made my sister choke on a piece of egg shell, and she got pneumonia from it. I remember that vividly.

“I also recall making Airfix aeroplane models and flying them around the garden. We used to make miniature villages there too, which I have to say had very good transport systems, and bicycle hire schemes.”

Stanley Johnson said he did not want the work to go ahead if it in any way damaged the property. 

He added: “It was a lovely back garden and it would be a great shame to do anything that may spoil it.”

Their sentiments have been echoed by neighbours, who have fought similar applications recently to stop more basements being carved out beneath the Victorian terraces in the area. 

Primrose Hill conservation area Advisory Committee member Pam White said the Town Hall’s planning committee should dismiss the scheme. She added: “We have always resisted basement developments in Primrose Hill. These houses are generous, large, comfortable and there is just no need to make them any bigger.

“Why do people not buy the house they want, not the house they want to turn it into? And how will they build it? 

“There is a real worry that they will take the soil out through the back in Kingstown Street, which is far too small. 

“It would cause major disruption.”

Neighbour Linda Seward helped fight off basement plans for a nearby home two years ago. She is now steeling herself for a similar ­battle. 

Ms Seward said: “The basement will go underneath their entire garden to create a cinema and a gym. 

“This garden backs directly on to my house. This is really a monstrous application. The amount of earth to be removed is absolutely vast. 

“The thing that scares me is that they own the little alley that runs beside my house, and we are guessing that this is where they will take out all the earth. It will cause massive disruption.”

Architects Greenway and Lee, who have worked on the scheme that includes turning parts of the house back to its original layout, said there was already a basement and the new extension was solely underneath the garden. They added: “The garden will be returned to its original state after the work is completed, if planning permission is gained. Everything has been done to protect the neighbouring properties.”

A date for the planning application to be considered is yet to be finalised.