Planning permission granted to restore historic Athlone House
The vision for Athlone House from SHH Architects - Credit: Archant
Following the hard work of the Highgate Society to protect Athlone House, Camden Council has given permission for the new owner’s vision
Councillors at Camden Council voted unanimously for planning permission to be granted to restore the historic mansion and gardens standing on the edge of Hampstead Heath.
Highgate Cllr Sally Gimson said: “We really, really welcome that this has finally happened after many years. It’s a fantastic scheme.”
Mikhail Fridman, a businessman and father-of-four originally from Ukraine, bought the house in January.
He previously told the Ham&High: “It intrigued me that the building had originally been designed as a family home about 130 years ago for a wealthy industrialist working in London.
You may also want to watch:
“It felt like fate that I, as a businessman, would be similarly drawn years later to the same property and grounds.”
He plans to renovate the mock Georgian house, and design a six-bedroom family home, complete with separate accommodation for security and a swimming pool.
Most Read
- 1 Apology to Barnet mother for 'embarrassing' food parcel
- 2 Hampstead vaccination centre shoots for 1,000 daily Covid jabs
- 3 Kentish Town café fundraises to keep community spirit alive
- 4 Free Nazanin: Calls for clarity as West Hampstead mum's sentence draws to a close
- 5 Hampstead families aim to raise £50,000 to feed Royal Free medics
- 6 Jeremy Corbyn launches Peace and Justice Project with calls to action
- 7 Maida Vale florist starts weekly subscription to brighten lockdown
- 8 Joan Bakewell fires legal threat to government over second Covid jab
- 9 Hampstead's Karma Bread thanks Royal Free staff with baked goods
- 10 O2 Centre: developer Landsec 'looking to re-provide' Sainsbury's
SHH Architecture said they will be guided by the original 19th century designs, including details such as the Dutch gables, castellations on the tower and heraldic beasts.
Athlone House was originally built in 1871, but many of the architectural features were removed during WWII when it was used as a secret RAF intelligence base, and then as an NHS hospital.
In October last year, former owner Athlone House Limited lost a High Court battle to demolish the building and replace it with a £80m palace with a basement car park.