Court fines building developers after two Victorian Villas were demolished without permission.
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A court has fined a London developer for demolishing two Victorian villas in Islington.
Panos Eliades and his company Hungerstone were in charge of the project. In 2017, the council granted planning permission to develop the buildings on Hungerford Road.
The planning permission said a number of the original features needed to be retained. But the developers destroyed the whole building.
The Ruling
Eliades and Hungerstone pleaded guilty to 10 offences at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court.
These included failing to comply with conditions of the planning permission and destroying the building.
Because of this, the court fined them a total of £59,261.32
The judge said the developers had shown “flagrant disregard of the planning permission”.
Councillor Diarmaid Ward said Islington Council is taking action. They want to protect Islington’s buildings and history from being “harmed and destroyed”.
Panos Eliades has submitted plans to rebuild the houses in a way which is sympathetic to their original appearance.
A piece of Islington history
Prior to demolition, the building had a blue plaque mounted on it in honour of Britain’s first female dentist, Lilian Lindsay.
As well as this, Lilian Lindsay went on to become the first female president of the British Dental Association (BDA). She was born in one of the homes.
The actions of the developer “shocked and saddened” staff from the BDA.
Because of this, English Heritage have confirmed that her plaque will bow be installed at a new location.
They will unveil a new plaque on the former site of the British Dental Association headquarters in Russell Square.
Blue Plaques
London’s Blue plaques are run by English Heritage. Want to learn more? Check out another story we’ve covered on the scheme here.
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HeadlineDeveloper fined following demolition of Islington Victorian villas.
Short HeadlineBuilder fined for destruction of Islington Victorian Villas
StandfirstThe developer has been given a court bill for £60,000.
A court has fined a London developer for demolishing two Victorian villas in Islington.
Panos Eliades and his company Hungerstone were in charge of the project. In 2017, the council granted planning permission to develop the buildings on Hungerford Road.
The planning permission said a number of the original features needed to be retained. But the developers destroyed the whole building.
The Ruling
Eliades and Hungerstone pleaded guilty to 10 offences at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court.
These included failing to comply with conditions of the planning permission and destroying the building.
Because of this, the court fined them a total of £59,261.32
The judge said the developers had shown “flagrant disregard of the planning permission”.
Councillor Diarmaid Ward said Islington Council is taking action. They want to protect Islington’s buildings and history from being “harmed and destroyed”.
Panos Eliades has submitted plans to rebuild the houses in a way which is sympathetic to their original appearance.
A piece of Islington history
Prior to demolition, the building had a blue plaque mounted on it in honour of Britain’s first female dentist, Lilian Lindsay.
As well as this, Lilian Lindsay went on to become the first female president of the British Dental Association (BDA). She was born in one of the homes.
The actions of the developer “shocked and saddened” staff from the BDA.
Because of this, English Heritage have confirmed that her plaque will bow be installed at a new location.
They will unveil a new plaque on the former site of the British Dental Association headquarters in Russell Square.
Blue Plaques
London’s Blue plaques are run by English Heritage. Want to learn more? Check out another story we’ve covered on the scheme here.
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