Qatari sheikh wins planning for Belgravia home
Westminster Council has gone against its planning officers’ recommendation and approved an application to move the stairs in a Grade II listed Belgravia mansion.
The planning committee decided the proposals for Forbes House at 10 Halkin Street, SW1, which is reportedly owned by the former Qatar prime minister sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber bin Mohammed bin Thani Al Thani, would not cause as much harm as the officers suggested.
Local amenity society and local ward councillor Elizabeth Hitchcock spoke in support of the application. She argued that the changes were “wholly justified” and that the proposals would “restore a great asset to Belgravia”.
Westminster Council has gone against its planning officers’ recommendation and approved an application to move the stairs in a Grade II listed Belgravia mansion.
The planning committee decided the proposals for Forbes House at 10 Halkin Street, SW1, which is reportedly owned by the former Qatar prime minister sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber bin Mohammed bin Thani Al Thani, would not cause as much harm as the officers suggested.
Local amenity society and local ward councillor Elizabeth Hitchcock spoke in support of the application. She argued that the changes were “wholly justified” and that the proposals would “restore a great asset to Belgravia”.
The committee chair noted that restoring and bringing the building back to its original use outweighed any harm.
The plans also included some new doors and the promise of a new public garden area off Grosvenor Crescent.
Forbes House was built in the early 19th century to the designs of Robert Smirke. It was remodelled in 1824, 1868 and, most significantly, in the early 20th century in an opulent Louis Quinze style, which included the main staircase, when it was owned by 8th Earl of Granard and his US heiress wife.
It remained in residential use until 1941. After the war, it was in use by central government, and from 1957 until 2011 it was the headquarters for the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.
The building has been vacant since then, although work has begun following planning approval in 2017 to convert the mansion back into residential use with alterations and extensions to the building, following the sheikh’s reported £150m purchase of it. The conversion back to a family home is reported to be costing a further £150m, which would make it one of London’s first £300m homes.
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