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£1m Brighton property disappears (From The Argus)
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£1m Brighton property disappears
10:30am Wednesday 8th August 2012 in News
NOW YOU SEE IT: The £1 million house before demolition
It was intended as a modest extension to a family home in one of the most expensive streets in Sussex.
But, three years after planning approval for the scheme was granted, the original £1 million property has gone. All that is left is bare chalk, broken bricks and an unspoilt view of the sea.
But today The Argus can reveal that the owner of the house in Roedean Crescent, Brighton, plans to rebuild the building from scratch so it will look exactly the same to those passing by.
It comes as Brighton and Hove City Council said it was investigating owner Henry Pell for carrying out the demolition without planning permission. The local authority said the only thing that was approved was a two-storey side and rear extension with a detached garage.
But a worker at the site yesterday, who did not want to be named, said once construction started, the rest of the property was found to be unsafe.
He said: “The front of the house was completely unsalvageable But, once we have got the foundations sorted, we’ll start building and the front of the house will look exactly the same. The only difference will be inside the house and a third floor will be created in the roof space.”
Mr Pell was not available to comment last night as he was on holiday with his family abroad.
A neighbour said: “You would have thought with all that work going on that we would have been affected by the dust. But it has been really quiet. We haven’t heard a thing.”
The Argus understands similar materials are being used in the rebuild as the original six-bedroom home.
However, council officials said work will only be able to start once a revised planning application is approved.
Christopher Hawtree, the chairman of the council’s planning committee, said: “It’s important to apply for permission before starting work as there is no guarantee that subsequent plans for the site will be approved.
“This particular area has imposing, individually designed family homes with interesting architectural features, and is part of the Roedean estate, which dates back to the 1930s.”
According to online estate valuers Zoopla, the property is valued at about £1 million.
The council is not able to fine the owners as the property is not listed or in a conservation area. However, it can issue a written warning.
According to public planning papers, the designated architect is McMillan Architects of Queen Square, Brighton.
Proposals were first submitted three years ago and approved in 2010 with alterations agreed as late as March this year.
A revised application, which will include details about restoring the demolished house, is expected to be submitted to the local authority in the coming weeks.
Comments(30)
Hove Actually
says...
11:09am Wed 8 Aug 12
redwing
says...
11:11am Wed 8 Aug 12
I can think of a few people (13000 households on the local waiting list for a proper home for starters)
who would have been satisfied with this house even without the addition of the "two storey side and rear extension with detached garage". Come to think of it, with the original six bedrooms, half a dozen small families could have occupied it together. Revolution, anybody?
Goldenwight
says...
11:23am Wed 8 Aug 12
Urgh! I shudder to think of it- a letter of warning! I'll bet this guy is hiding abroad simply to avoid it.
Why has this story surfaced today, incidentally? Was the house demolished overninght last night? Or some time ago? Why wasn't it a story then?
Vigilia
says...
11:29am Wed 8 Aug 12
Hove Actually wrote:How much was the house and land worth?
Worth remembering it is a house worth £150,00:00 on a plot of land worth £850,000:00 and he will spend ££££s but end up with a more valuable asset in the end
Rhodes Seagull
says...
11:35am Wed 8 Aug 12
Vigilia wrote:Nothing as it must be owned by the council as they are the ones laying down the law. An Englishman's home is his castle has long gone since councils and the people at the top decided to play communists, you will do as we say not as we do!!!
Hove Actually wrote:How much was the house and land worth?
Worth remembering it is a house worth £150,00:00 on a plot of land worth £850,000:00 and he will spend ££££s but end up with a more valuable asset in the end
mimseycal
says...
12:01pm Wed 8 Aug 12
Charismatic Andrew wrote:I'm a bit surprised that they managed to demolish it without once contacting the council, from whom they had received planning permission for the extension, about the 'unsafe' verdict.
Hove Actually wrote:Do you really believe it was found to be unsafe? Do you really believe that?
If it was found to be unsafe whats the problem.
It is clear in the story the neighbours weren't affected which proves it was done properly and it wasn't listed so as long as any rebuild is approved by the council who cares....
What is even funnier, it the fact that when they surveyed for the proposed extension that the 'unsafe' condition of the house wasn't discovered then.
It certainly isn't an issue anymore as the house has gone. And seeing as it won't cost the public purse and just a few manhours as far as the renewed planning application, for which they will be charged ... Hey hop, how the rich live indeed ;)
GIVE UP
says...
12:10pm Wed 8 Aug 12
sdhgfhfuyt
says...
12:46pm Wed 8 Aug 12
redwing wrote:Don't think so mate, not really my problem.
Oh how the rich live - build it up, knock it down, build it up again! I can think of a few people (13000 households on the local waiting list for a proper home for starters) who would have been satisfied with this house even without the addition of the "two storey side and rear extension with detached garage". Come to think of it, with the original six bedrooms, half a dozen small families could have occupied it together. Revolution, anybody?
Skidrow
says...
1:29pm Wed 8 Aug 12
Henry to Builder - If I have it knocked down and rebuilt as per the planning permission already granted, can the council do anything to stop it? Am I breaking any laws?
Builder to Henry - No.
So his only crime is having the money to do it. Not much of a story is it?
minijaja
says...
1:50pm Wed 8 Aug 12
MuammarQaddafi
says...
1:54pm Wed 8 Aug 12
roebtn
says...
2:25pm Wed 8 Aug 12
Jo Wadsworth
says...
2:45pm Wed 8 Aug 12
roebtn wrote:Hi roebtn,
Come on argus, the house in the picture shown is still standing in Roedean Crescent and on the opposite side of the road to the demolished property!!
That picture was supplied to us by Brighton and Hove City Council. We went down there yesterday, but obviously couldn't compare it with the photo as it's not there anymore . . .
chilliman
says...
4:44pm Wed 8 Aug 12
It's nice if you have the money to do it as well.
roebtn
says...
4:58pm Wed 8 Aug 12
Jo Wadsworth wrote:Sorry it was my error, this picture is the back of the demolished house which looks similar to the frontage of the one I was referring to!
roebtn wrote:Hi roebtn,
Come on argus, the house in the picture shown is still standing in Roedean Crescent and on the opposite side of the road to the demolished property!!
That picture was supplied to us by Brighton and Hove City Council. We went down there yesterday, but obviously couldn't compare it with the photo as it's not there anymore . . .
Jo Wadsworth
says...
5:16pm Wed 8 Aug 12
roebtn wrote:No worries - you had me on Google Streetview checking, there is a lot of mock Tudor there :)
Jo Wadsworth wrote:Sorry it was my error, this picture is the back of the demolished house which looks similar to the frontage of the one I was referring to!
roebtn wrote:Hi roebtn,
Come on argus, the house in the picture shown is still standing in Roedean Crescent and on the opposite side of the road to the demolished property!!
That picture was supplied to us by Brighton and Hove City Council. We went down there yesterday, but obviously couldn't compare it with the photo as it's not there anymore . . .
Helena Handcart
says...
5:41pm Wed 8 Aug 12
Jo Wadsworth wrote:A lot less now! haha
roebtn wrote:No worries - you had me on Google Streetview checking, there is a lot of mock Tudor there :)
Jo Wadsworth wrote:Sorry it was my error, this picture is the back of the demolished house which looks similar to the frontage of the one I was referring to!
roebtn wrote:Hi roebtn,
Come on argus, the house in the picture shown is still standing in Roedean Crescent and on the opposite side of the road to the demolished property!!
That picture was supplied to us by Brighton and Hove City Council. We went down there yesterday, but obviously couldn't compare it with the photo as it's not there anymore . . .
Dr.Draconian
says...
6:00pm Wed 8 Aug 12
juleshove
says...
6:05pm Wed 8 Aug 12
redwing wrote:Work hard and you may achieve anything. Envy is not attractive.
Oh how the rich live - build it up, knock it down, build it up again!
I can think of a few people (13000 households on the local waiting list for a proper home for starters)
who would have been satisfied with this house even without the addition of the "two storey side and rear extension with detached garage". Come to think of it, with the original six bedrooms, half a dozen small families could have occupied it together. Revolution, anybody?
Reflect on your post
says...
8:46pm Wed 8 Aug 12
redwing wrote:Do us all a favour and stop bleating on. People who contribute share in the rewards and the days of something for nothing will soon be over.
Oh how the rich live - build it up, knock it down, build it up again!
I can think of a few people (13000 households on the local waiting list for a proper home for starters)
who would have been satisfied with this house even without the addition of the "two storey side and rear extension with detached garage". Come to think of it, with the original six bedrooms, half a dozen small families could have occupied it together. Revolution, anybody?
hubby
says...
9:26pm Wed 8 Aug 12
Dave in Hastings
says...
10:09pm Wed 8 Aug 12
Reflect on your post wrote:Oh that's brilliant news! Does it mean we will soon be rid of those spongers the Saxe-Coburgs with their palaces all over the place?
redwing wrote:Do us all a favour and stop bleating on. People who contribute share in the rewards and the days of something for nothing will soon be over.
Oh how the rich live - build it up, knock it down, build it up again!
I can think of a few people (13000 households on the local waiting list for a proper home for starters)
who would have been satisfied with this house even without the addition of the "two storey side and rear extension with detached garage". Come to think of it, with the original six bedrooms, half a dozen small families could have occupied it together. Revolution, anybody?
gnarlychaos
says...
10:45pm Wed 8 Aug 12
SeaSalt
says...
10:52pm Wed 8 Aug 12
We've just renovated ours. You don't need a survey for a planning application and, believe me, a structural engineer's report can not always tell your walls will disintegrate the moment you remove a hanging tile from an eighty year old house.
Bubs
says...
10:09am Thu 9 Aug 12
redwing
says...
10:34am Thu 9 Aug 12
juleshove wrote:I agree, but excuse me I need to get on with a bit of coveting right now.
redwing wrote:Work hard and you may achieve anything. Envy is not attractive.
Oh how the rich live - build it up, knock it down, build it up again!
I can think of a few people (13000 households on the local waiting list for a proper home for starters)
who would have been satisfied with this house even without the addition of the "two storey side and rear extension with detached garage". Come to think of it, with the original six bedrooms, half a dozen small families could have occupied it together. Revolution, anybody?
rolivan
says...
11:26am Thu 9 Aug 12
redwing wrote:I find it very hard to believe that houses in Roedean are selling for a £1m when in other parts of B&H they sell for £3m or more.As for not being able to build more modern houses on the estate isn't there one on the corner of the crescent that was built in the 60s that is not the same as the mock Tudor that make up most of the hoses on the Estate.
juleshove wrote:I agree, but excuse me I need to get on with a bit of coveting right now.
redwing wrote:Work hard and you may achieve anything. Envy is not attractive.
Oh how the rich live - build it up, knock it down, build it up again!
I can think of a few people (13000 households on the local waiting list for a proper home for starters)
who would have been satisfied with this house even without the addition of the "two storey side and rear extension with detached garage". Come to think of it, with the original six bedrooms, half a dozen small families could have occupied it together. Revolution, anybody?
cancelaccount
says...
12:54pm Thu 9 Aug 12
hubby wrote:your point being???
I wonder if the "Travellers" know this lovely spot is vacant??
Skidrow
says...
2:04pm Thu 9 Aug 12
Hove Actually says...
11:05am Wed 8 Aug 12
It is clear in the story the neighbours weren't affected which proves it was done properly and it wasn't listed so as long as any rebuild is approved by the council who cares....