Former home of Vivienne Westwood under development threat (From Wandsworth Guardian)

Former home of Vivienne Westwood under development threat

3:55pm Saturday 9th August 2008

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The former art-deco residence of Dame Vivienne Westwood is under threat from developers who want to build eight flats on the building’s roof.

The world renowned fashion designer used to live in Thurleigh House, Nightingale Lane, and said the building “is a prime example of 1930’s art deco architecture”.

Along with other residents she has voiced concerns about plans by developers Faroncell Limited - which submitted proposals for eight flats on a single storey last month.

Outlining her misgivings in a letter to Wandsworth Council Dame Vivienne, 67, who has a family member who now lives in the property, said: “Thurleigh Court is a prime example of 1930’s art deco architecture and should remain unaltered and as it is.”

She added - if approved - the plans would bring: “Extra noise, extra people, increased strain on rubbish collection and water supply, plus loss of privacy for flats with existing roof terraces.”

Resident Paivi Martin added residents thought the building was subject to a preservation order. She said: “The residents were always lead to believe that the building was protected, but apparently it is not so . . . the building work would create a huge disruption and an irreversible mutilation to one of the borough’s most outstanding original buildings.

“The disfigurement of this valued structure is not just inappropriate but unnecessary.”

A Wandsworth Council spokesman said the plans were likely to go to the planning committee.

He said: “We have just finished the consultation and we are evaluating the letters and responses. If it does go to the [planning] committee it is likely to be at the August 21 meeting.

“If people still want to express a view they can write to us and we will take those to the committee on the night.”

When contacted Faroncell Limited declined to comment.

It is not the first time Ms Westwood has got involved in disputes with developers. In 2006 she wrote a poem eulogising Swallows Wood, a Nature Reserve near Tintwistle where she was born and grew up, when it was threatened by the construction of a road bypass.

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