16-year North London mansion dilemma ends in demolition
A historic North London mansion at the heart of a 16-year wrangle over its future is to be demolished.
Brent Council gained approval this week to demolish the derelict Dollis Hill House, which in its fabled history has played host to luminaries including 19th Century Prime Minister, William Gladstone and American author, Mark Twain.
The council's decision will now be referred to the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, Jeremy Hunt MP, who will have the final say on whether the listed, but dangerous, building will remain.
The council's lead member for environment, planning and culture, James Powney, said there had been a long-term conundrum presented by the house's upkeep costs.
"It costs £20,000 a year to maintain Dollis Hill House in its present derelict state and keep it safe," he said. "Unfortunately, Brent Council cannot afford £5 million to restore it, or subsidise someone else to manage it."
Plans to transform the mansion into tea-rooms and a restaurant were scrapped and Mayor of London, Boris Johnson then announced he would not pledge any money to the regeneration.
This was at odds with the opinions of former mayor, Ken Livingston, who had promised to part-fund the restoration of the 200-year-old building.
