Cherie Blair guru fights to save 'Grand Central' lobby at flats

Cherie Blair's former lifestyle guru Carole Caplin is fighting plans to develop the ornate foyer of her apartment block.

The lobby, described as the "crowning glory" of the Beaux Arts Building in Holloway, was created in the style of New York's Grand Central station with a sweeping staircase and stained glass windows.

Residents fear the freeholder will "squeeze" new offices into the space and build a two-bedroom warehouse-style flat in an adjoining room.

Ms Caplin said: "This is such a wonderful building and has so much history. To want to build inside a grand lobby is just plain greed."

Residents have formed a committee, including leading theatre director Max Stafford Clark, to fight the plans. Ms Caplin owns a top-floor penthouse flat, bought 14 years ago for £240,000, with panoramic views and roof garden. She "fell in love" with the former Royal Mail building during visits to the Blairs when they lived in Barnsbury.

"After I moved in Cherie used to visit me at the flat and really loved it," said Ms Caplin. The former Royal Mail administrative building was built in 1910 and was converted into 190 flats in the Nineties. The sales brochure from 1995 states: "The foyer evokes the civilised refinement of the world's great hotels, the grandeur of a great ocean liner's state room."

It is proposed the new flat and offices would replace a mail room and reception, which could be moved into the grand lobby. A larger development was submitted last year by freeholder Bloomfold. They wanted to build three flats inside but the plans were thrown out at an Islington planning appeal.

Ms Caplin, 49, called the new plans "smaller than the original but still greedy". She said: "On behalf of all residents I say to the developers, 'Don't do it'.  The foyer retains many of the original features of the building, including the original plasterwork, stained glass medallions and mahogany entrance. It should be protected."

Mr Stafford-Clarke, 71, said: "This is corporate greed. Our ornate foyer is the crowning glory of these flats and would be ruined by these plans."
A spokesman for Bloomfold said: "In addition to the works associated with the application, we intend to refurbish the entrance foyer in a sympathetic way that will respect the history and splendour of the existing interior."