Could London be in line for a Grade III listing?
Wed 25 Jan 2023
Paul Bennett, Director
London is one of the premier cities in the world when it comes to heritage and design excellence. There are around 11,000 listed buildings and other structures in the City of Westminster alone – each singled out for its national architectural or historic interest. Moving a little closer to our office, there are at least 140 listed buildings within 500 metres of St. John’s Wood Tube station.
As estate agents serving the Westminster area, it gives us great pleasure to be able to sell and let some of London’s finest listed and heritage buildings. We can offer some of the most unique opportunities in the world – allowing home movers to occupy a piece of history and enjoy fine period features on a daily basis.
Our estate agents in St. John’s Wood are currently selling this two-bedroom apartment set within an attractive Georgian-era, stucco-fronted property along Hamilton Terrace, NW8. Located on the first floor, the property enjoys large sash windows and French doors opening out onto a balcony.
Also sold through our St. John’s Wood office is this one-bedroom apartment in the ever-popular Neville Court mansion block on Abbey Road. This handsome Victorian building is one of the most distinctive in the neighbourhood, with its iconic combination of red brick, white plasterwork and bay window arrangements.
The Behr & Butchoff lettings department has an equally rich vein of historic homes available. This five-bedroom family apartment to rent can be found within Hannover House along St. John’s Wood Road. Architectural merits included its cream and red banded brickwork and wrought iron balconies.
Our final example is possibly our grandest. With views across Regent’s Park, this five-bedroom apartment to rent in North Gate, Prince Albert Road, is complete with ornate mouldings, coving and cornicing. Completing the look are two statement fireplaces and original stained glass in the communal areas.
Although there is a healthy degree of protection for London’s most valuable and cherished buildings, there could be a new path to even greater preservation if a group of architects and TV presenter Kevin McCloud get their way. There is growing support for the introduction of a new Grade III listed classification. It would join Grade I, which is reserved for the most significant buildings, including Buckingham Palace and St Paul’s Cathedral, Grade II – the most common listing and a rating applied to the BT Tower and the BBC’s Maida Vale studios, and Grade II* - a status enjoyed by Fishmongers’ Hall and the Old Vic theatre.
McCloud spoke to The Times newspaper in support of a Grade III listing, claiming it could halt the trend to demolish and rebuild properties. Instead, a new classification would prompt architects and developers to stop and think how a building could be reused or remodelled.
It’s a thought process the Behr & Butchoff team are following with interest, as we feel there are a number of notable properties in the St. John’s Wood area that would benefit from extra protection or a listed status.
If you are looking for a little piece of real history to buy or rent in London, please contact us for the latest available properties.