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Garden flats plan back down
JUBILANT residents in an exclusive Hampstead enclave were celebrating this week after plans to build a four-story block of flats in a garden were withdrawn by the developer.
Hugh Simon, who owns a property in Gainsborough Gardens – a private road in the heart of the Hampstead conservation area – was appealing a decision by Town Hall planning chiefs just over a year ago to turn down his proposal for the new building.
They decided it would harm precious views from nearby Christchurch Hill and adversely affect light in neighbouring properties.
Government planning inspectors were due to start a public inquiry into the proposal today (Thursday) at the Town Hall.
But last Thursday, neighbours who had bitterly opposed the plans, learned that Mr Simon, who is based in the Far East, had decided to withdraw his appeal.
His representative, planning consultant Michael Burroughs, said: “We want to re-draw the scheme to make it more acceptable to neighbours. We are refining the scheme at the moment.”
But Gainsborough Gardens resident Helen Andrews, who had campaigned against the plans, said: “It is never going to be acceptable to us. We will keep on fighting any plans to build there.”
She added: “We hope that Mr Simon will read the evidence carefully and appreciate that it is really important to preserve the fringes of the Heath and the cottage and its garden settings for future generations to enjoy.”
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