Saved from the wrecking ball: plans to demolish Athlone House rejected

Published: 15 April 2010
by DAN CARRIER

TO the owners, it is a pigeon-ridden, crumbling, red brick pile that once would have been grand but is now a festering sore on a prime spot of real estate, and offers an opportunity to build a new mansion for  wealthy inhabitants.

To conservationists, it is a vital part of the architectural fabric of Highgate, an important symbol of Victorian “Tudor-bethan” architecture that requires just a  little tender loving care to restore it to its former glory.

But whatever the view is over the future of former hospital Athlone House, it is safe from the wreckers ball – for the time being.

With the owners vowing to appeal, Camden Council now face a lengthy and potentially expensive court battle to uphold a decision made on Thursday by the Town Hall’s planning committee to unanimously throw out plans designed by contemporary classical architect Robert Adam to rip down the house.

The scheme would have seen Athlone House, built for a chemical magnate in 1874, replaced with an eight bedroom mansion. The designs show a building clad in Bath stone, with an underground car park and add-ons including a swimming pool, leisure centre and quarters for servants. Landscaped gardens boasted features inspired by the Palace of Versailles.

Planning officers recommended the scheme be dismissed, citing  a case that went to the Court of Appeal two years ago to justify their stance. The Garden House, overlooking the Vale of Health pond, was saved from demolition when High Court judges heard a planned building would infringe on the urban equivalent of the green belt, called Metropolitan Open Land. The committee of seven councillors were told by officers: “It is three to four times bigger in terms of floor space.” They added that views from Kenwood would be affected. 

The officer said: “It is much larger than what is there at the moment in terms of visual impact, and there is no clear or convincing justification for the demolition of this house.”

Speaking on behalf of his clients, Robert Adam, named as Prince Charles’s favourite architect for his classical designs, told the committee that while Athlone House had once been a grand home, it was now beyond repair and had been changed so much over the years there was little to restore. 

He added that the original footprint of the building was bigger than his proposals.

After the meeting, members of conservationists the Athlone House Working Group revealed they were locked in talks with a potential developer who is interested in buying the house, restoring it, and converting the interior into apartments. 

Group convener Jeremy Wright said: “We are extremely pleased the council voted unanimously to reject the scheme. We are now preparing ourselves to fight the appeal.”

He added that he wanted Camden Council to fulfil their legal obligations to ensure the owners kept the building watertight and secure as they were legally bound to do, and eventually put in place plans for restoration.

Planning lawyer David Cooper and architect Robert Adam said they had both expected the result. 

Mr Cooper added: “We were under no illusions. We said we would appeal if this application was not passed – and that is exactly what we plan to do.”