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Qatari sheikh set to be refused planning for Belgravia home

Westminster Council is set to refuse a planning application to move the stairs within a Grade II listed mansion in Belgravia.

Planning officers said the relocation of the main staircase in Forbes House at 10 Halkin Street, SW1, was “unacceptable on heritage grounds”.

In a report, the officers added that the applicant, Forbes House on behalf of reported owner former Qatar prime minister sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber bin Mohammed bin Thani Al Thani, had failed to “convincingly” justify the changes and that they did not outweigh the public benefits, including the promise of a new public garden area off Grosvenor Crescent.

This is in spite of Historic England stating that the proposal would “cause less than substantial harm to the significance of the listed building”.

Forbes House was built in the early 19th century to the designs of Robert Smirke. It was remodelled in 1824, 1868 and, most significantly, in the early 20th century in an opulent Louis Quinze style, which included the main staircase, when it was owned by 8th Earl of Granard and his US heiress wife.

It remained in residential use until 1941. After the war, it was in use by central government, and from 1957 until 2011 it was the headquarters for the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.

The building has been vacant since then, although work has begun following planning approval in 2017 to convert the mansion back into residential use with alterations and extensions to the building, following the sheikh’s reported £150m purchase of it. The conversion back to a family home is reported to be costing a further £150m, which would make it one of London’s first £300m homes.

To send feedback, e-mail louise.dransfield@egi.co.uk or tweet @DransfieldL or @estatesgazette

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