Hylda Court, Dartmouth Park tenants oppose penthouses plan

Bankway Properties, which is run by property tycoons the Pears brothers, has applied to Camden Council to make the changes to Hylda Court in St Albans Road, Dartmouth Park.

Under the plans, an extra floor would be added to the existing five-storey building to create three new penthouses.

A row of garages and a “caretaker’s flat” behind the building would also be demolished to make way for three townhouses.

CGI of how Hylda Court would look after construction work (left) and how it looks now (right) (Image: Newsquest/Inglis Badrashi Loddo)

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Garages and a 'caretaker's flat' behind the block (left) would be replaced by new townhouses (right) (Image: Newsquest/Inglis Badrashi Loddo)

One tenant, who has lived in the block for the past five years, told Ham & High the proposals were “ludicrous”, and that tenants had not been consulted by their landlord ahead of the planning application being submitted.

They asked not to be named to prevent risking their tenancy, but claimed they felt they would be forced to move out if the work goes ahead due to the disruptive nature of the planned construction.

Some neighbours are also unhappy with the proposed plans, claiming they would damage a “building of note” in the area.

Katharine Johnson, who has lived next door to Hylda Court since 2002, has now applied to Historic England to have the building listed in a bid to stall the planning process.

She said: “I think it would be a real shame if this should be allowed to go ahead.

“There’s a great groundswell of people liking the building. If you’re into modernist architecture, you’ll love it. If you’re not, you won’t. It’s a bit like Marmite.

“But in terms of the penthouses on top, we’re talking about issues with overlooking, with skyline, and with proportion.”

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The block was built in a distinctive Art Deco style (Image: Newsquest)

She added that a tenant lives in the 'caretaker’s flat', which is earmarked for demolition, so would be left without a home if the plans were approved.

A number of objections to the application (2024/4134/P) have been made on the council’s planning portal, including from Green party Highgate councillor Lorna Russell.

The Ham & High has approached the agent for applicant Bankway Properties for comment.