New flats 'a tragedy for street' - Fortess Road Neighbours battle to save historic Edward Pugin-designed vicarage

Terry Hodgkinson, left, and Graeme Tayar with Hanna and Sofia Gebre

Published: 04 August 2011
by DAN CARRIER

A VICTORIAN vicarage designed by a leading architect is facing the wrecker’s ball after its owners said bringing the building up to modern standards was too costly.
The Kentish Town house, designed by church builder Edward Pugin in the 1860s, was once connected to a church next door built by the same architect.
Edward worked for his father, renowned Gothic architect and designer of the Houses of Parliament, Augustus Pugin, from the age of seven. He designed more than 100 churches before he died aged 40.
A planning application seen by the New Journal would mean the brick gabled house in Fortess Road being razed and replaced with nine flats. The neighbouring church was bulldozed in 2001.
 
Conservation group the Victorian Society says the building is a crucial part of Kentish Town history. 
Director Dr Ian Dungavell said: “It makes a strong and good contribution to the area and is part of the area’s history. 
“The church next door should never have been knocked down in the first place and this home should be kept as it is. 
“It is part of a varied streetscape along Fortess Road. The rest of the stretch it is on is part of a long terrace and it offers variety.”
He added: “They will make more money out of making this into nine flats, but will it improve the area? No, it won’t. This is simply money versus our historic environment.”
Town Hall planning officers say a decision on the house’s future does not need to go to the planning committee – but, with a campaign being mounted to save the building, neighbours hope the application will now be given the full scrutiny of councillors.
Neighbours Terry Hodgkinson and Graeme Tayar are leading the campaign to save the building. 
Mr Hodgkinson said: “The loss of the church was a  terrible end to an important building in our area. To lose the rectory as well would be a further tragedy for our street.” 
 
Agent Dandi Living, which is acting for the owners, said the building added nothing to Fortess Road.
Director Alireza Ravenshad said the house was in a poor state of repair. The Town Hall had threatened legal action if expensive building work was not completed to bring it up to modern standards for buildings split into multiple homes.   
Mr Ravenshad said: “It is beyond repair and does not meet building regulations. Tenants complained to the local authority about heat loss and an environmental health officer served an enforcement notice.
“But there was no way to clad the building – it was too expensive.”
He added: “The options are to empty it of tenants and leave it or knock it down and build something new.”

Pictured: Outside the vicarage: Terry Hodgkinson, left, and Graeme Tayar with Hanna and Sofia Gebre of the Queen of Sheba restaurant in Fortess Road

Comments

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Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 2011-09-20 12:55.

I live in this property and have done for the past 3 years. There doesnt seem to be a process to protest against this other than emailing the council. This building happily houses 3 flats with 4 people in each and everyone who I have known in the time I have lived here has thoroughly enjoyed the uniqueness of this building and are proud to live in a little piece of Kentish Towns history. Demolishing it would add nothing but lining the owners pockets with a few more quid.

oh no!

Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 2011-08-18 16:13.

This is one of my favourite buildings to stare at whilst on the 134!

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