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Camden News - by DAN CARRIER
Published: 5 March 2009

Brothers Alex and Thalis Vlachos

New bid to build on Vale of Health

Brothers to resubmit plans for house

THE twin brothers who had their plans to build a dream home in Hampstead scuppered by a landmark court ruling have drawn up a new scheme for the same site.
Thalis and Alex Vlachos, who own the Garden House in the Vale of Health, overlooking the Hampstead ponds, were given planning permission three years ago to build a luxury house.
But a judicial review of the decision, prompted by conservation group the Heath and Hampstead Society saw the approval overturned.
Judges ruled the scheme would mean building on Metropolitan Open Land – the urban equivalent of green belt land – and was thrown out.
Now the brothers, both lawyers in their 30s, have put in two new schemes for the council’s planning committee to consider. Both would see the current red brick 1950s family home demolished and replaced with a house.
Once again, they are facing stiff opposition from the Heath and Hampstead Society.
The society’s Gordon Mclean said: “We are astonished that they are willing to have another go.
“You would have thought they would have learnt that this is simply not going to be acceptable and that it costs a lot of time and effort. We will object vigorously.”
Alex Vlachos said: “Our intention is and has always been to build a home which, as far as we possibly can, justifies such a beautiful and idyllic plot.
“Having considered the Court of Appeal judgment and with consultation with the council, our architect has produced a new more modest scheme, which, we are confident, achieves this.”

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