Baptist church car park is ‘taken over’- Developers Clear Designs accused of using public land in Highgate Road

Published: 21 April 2011
by DAN CARRIER

PROPERTY developers have been accused of taking over public land to use as a private car park to help them sell their new flats.

The owners of the former Baptist Church in Highgate Road have spent more than five years converting the late Victorian building into luxury homes. 

After a series of delays, builders are putting the finishing touches to them – and have asked Camden Council if they can turn the ancient road in front of the church into a private space for new residents to park their cars.

But while they wait for officials to decide whether to grant permission to use the road, part of Grove Terrace and College Lane, one of the oldest roads in Kentish Town which has been a right of way for around 1,000 years, has become dotted with signs warning that it is private property.

Dartmouth Park Conservation Area Advisory Committee chairman Patrick Lefevre said: “The notices shouldn’t be there and are unlawful. 

“The road in front of the chapel is currently a public highway without any parking restriction so anyone can park there, drive or walk across it. 

“The notices are just the latest illegality. A few weeks ago they made provision for a gate in breach of both highway and planning laws but hastily covered this up with tarmac when objections were made.”

The developers have asked for a “stopping-up” order – legal planning permission to say the road is now out of bounds. 

Mr Lefevre added: “Even if they get a revised stopping-up order, it is unlikely these awful notices attached to other people’s property would be allowed. 

“For the record, planning conditions require that no part of the development is occupied until the parking issue is resolved.”

Clear Designs declined to comment.