A Grade-II listed building in West London is set to be demolished to make way for a new housing development.
Alongside this, three listed buildings will be converted to accommodate the new homes. The development at the Barn Hotel in Ruislip will not provide any affordable housing.
According to the developer, it cannot afford to provide affordable housing whilst maintaining financial viability. Hillingdon Council says its own independent assessments have shown the development would be in financial deficit.
The council’s Local Plan advocates for a minimum of 35 per cent affordable housing on site which would equate to 24 or 25 homes in this development. If the scheme sees an uplift in financial performance during development, the council has secured a legally binding agreement which will reassess the provision of affordable housing.
Councillors on Hillingdon Council’s planning committee voted unanimously to approve the proposals on Tuesday, September 15. The 71 homes proposed will be spread across nine blocks.
The largest block will be four storeys and to the rear of Ruislip station – accommodating 31 flats. The smallest block will be three storeys high accommodating 15 flats.
Not all of the homes will be flats as 15 houses will be built, including a four-bedroom home. There will be 26 one-bedroom homes built, together with 30 two-bedroom homes, 14 three-beds, and one four-bedroom house.
In order to stop the developer constructing and selling profitable market-rate blocks prior to restoring the listed sections, the legal agreement mandates that full restoration of the listed structures must be finished prior to completing blocks A to C.
The site contains three Grade II listed structures originating from the late 16th and early 17th centuries. This includes Sherley’s Farmhouse, the Leaning Barn, and the Oak Room.
Sherley’s Farmhouse will be converted into the four-bedroom family house. The Leaning Barn and Oak Room will be stripped of their extensions and converted into two residential units.
Historic England supported the scheme and praised the removal of the 20th century extensions. While officers determined that densifying around the farmstead causes “less than substantial harm” by changing its former spacious, rural setting, this harm is considered to be outweighed by the public benefit of securing the long-term restoration and viable reuse of the heritage assets.
Throughout the planning process, 215 objections were received by Hillingdon Council together with one letter of support. Objections were also received from the Ruislip Residents Association, Cllr Douglas Mills, and Cllr Susan O’Brien.
Concerns were raised about privacy and overlooking of neighbouring properties, with some arguing that the proposal was “not sympathetic to the historic buildings”.
