Flats to Replace Victorian House Knocked Down without Permission
No legal action over loss of Charlbury Grove property
The house on Charlbury Grove before it was demolished. Picture: Google Streetview
March 17, 2025
A new block of flats is set to be built Ealing following the unauthorised demolition of a Victorian House, with the rubble of the old property used to make it look as though it was never gone. Ealing Council granted permission to developers to build the new flats, however attached a number of conditions to preserve the character of the area.
The new building, at 9 Charlbury Grove in Ealing, will ‘reinstate the previous building’ using existing materials where possible to replicate the character of the demolished house. This means it will be three storeys high with a total of eight flats.
Planning permission had been granted to convert the building into eight flats in December 2022, and in July 2024, a minor amendment application sought additional small changes. However, this was withdrawn after the house was demolished without approval in October. The large site has remained unused for six years as a result of these planning complications.
The house sat in the Mount Park Conservation Area, which is a designated heritage zone in Ealing, recognising the Victorian architecture in the area. This means there are strict planning controls to protect the historic character of the neighbourhood, including restrictions on demolitions.
The council decided not to take any legal action because the new application proposed rebuilding the house in a similar form to replicate the house before it was bulldozed. The new building will use salvaged material from the old house where possible to match the original design.
The front façade will identically match the original house in order to maintain the historical appearance of the area. However, the rear of the building will incorporate more modern features, such as privacy screens for residents.
There will be four one-bedroom flats, three two-bedroom flats, and one three-bedroom flat. All flats will have private balconies or terraces, and there will be a 126 sqm garden at the rear of the block.
The building will offer two visitor car parking spaces, however on-street resident parking is restricted under the controlled parking zone. There will also be 14 ‘secure’ cycle parking spaces provided.
Philip James Lynch - Local Democracy Reporter