Community campaigners who have fiercely opposed plans to turn the former New End nurses home in Hampstead into luxury flats will appeal to local government secretary Eric Pickles in a final bid to stop the development.
Camden Council refused planning permission to demolish the 1930s derelict nurses’ hostel in New End and turn it into a seven-storey luxury flat complex in a unanimous vote in 2013. But developers Karawana Holdings Limited launched an appeal against the decision and the Planning Inspectorate ruled last month that the works can go ahead.
Marika Cobbold, of the community campaign, said: “We in Hampstead are made of sterner stuff and do not let what appears to be a hopeless situation overcome our sense of outrage and desire to have our voices heard.
“That is why we are appealing to the Secretary of State for the Department of Communities and Local Government, Mr Eric Pickles MP, to revoke this planning consent.”
Campaigners may also consider launching a judicial review.
In the meantime they have prepared a petition inviting the developers to sell the land to the community to be developed for affordable housing.
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