Prince Charles architect wins appeal to redevelop £50m Highgate manor

A scheme by one of Prince Charles's favourite architects to redevelop a north London manor house has been given the go-ahead by Whitehall planning chiefs in a victory for "traditional" design.

Witanhurst in Highgate, London's second-biggest private home after Buckingham Palace, was bought for £50 million on behalf of an anonymous Eastern European oligarch after lying empty for 40 years.

Neoclassicist Robert Adam's ambitious plans for a redevelopment costing up to an additional £50 million were thrown out by Camden council in December, but that decision has now been overturned on appeal following a public inquiry.

The inquiry's outcome is a blow to conservationists including the Highgate Society and residents, who had objected to the proposals by developer Safran Holdings.

The plans for the five-acre estate include remodelling the house's front facade, restoring the interior and adding the biggest basement extension in London — set to include a pool, gym, sauna and massage room, beauty salon, cinema and parking for 25 cars.

The architect also intends to knock down one wing of the Grade-II* listed mansion, which dates from the early 20th century, and replace it with a three-storey pavilion in the style of a Georgian orangery.

The planning inspector said he considered the orangery to be "sympathetic with the architectural character of Witanhurst" and "a scholarly response to its situation".

Mr Adam said that to allow the demolition of part of an important listed building, and support its replacement with a new classical building, was a radical decision even though his approach was supported by English Heritage.

"It shows that heritage is not necessarily preserving things in aspic and that modern classical buildings can be a complement to old classical buildings," he told Building Design magazine.

But Michael Hammerson, of the Highgate Society, claims the decision will ruin the character of Highgate Village.

He said: "It looks as if we are going to be subjected to another massively pretentious development, in a pastiche classical style which will be a mockery of Highgate's character and history, and cause years of disruption. It is just another stage in the relentless Bishop's Avenue-isation of Highgate."

The decision also angered the Victorian Society, which said: "We are very concerned that the planning inspector has given the go-ahead to a scheme which will see an entire wing of a Grade II* listed house demolished. The service wing was part of the architect's original designs for Witanhurst and is not beyond repair."

Witanhurst — which was used to film the BBC's Fame Academy — has 25 bedrooms, grand staircases and a ballroom. It has fallen into disrepair and has been on English Heritage's "at risk" list for the past decade.