80 North End Road sale

Thursday October 8, 2009

A derelict building in West Kensington could get a new lease of life after it changed hands.

The previous owners of 80 North End Road were forced to sell up last month after the building was repossessed.

Residents around W14 have consistently complained about the vacant four storey Victorian terrace – opposite West Kensington tube station – after fire ripped through the building in 2002.

Scaffolding, which was put up to support the building following the inferno, was only supposed to be in place temporarily while arrangements were made for repair works to begin. Seven years later it is still there.

However, the sale of the property to a new owner has raised hopes that things may improve. The developer, who wishes to remain anonymous, has said he plans to ‘move quickly’ to bring the building back into a reasonable state.

There are hopes that the building’s unsightly appearance – with torn plastic sheeting on the scaffolding, combined with fly-posting and graffiti – may soon be a thing of he past.

Councillor Nicholas Botterill, H&F Cabinet Member for Environment, says, “The council’s patience with the previous owners of 80 North End Road ran out months ago. We are pleased by this sale and are confident that the new owner will restore the building to its former glory.

“For too long the building was a blight on this picturesque row of shops and there are now high hopes that 80 North End Road has a bright future.”

The council had taken a zero-tolerance approach with the previous owners and served an enforcement notice on them in May.

Under the terms of the enforcement notice the previous owners had until October 6 to bring the building up to an acceptably clean and safe standard. Renovation works could now begin within weeks.

The previous owners – 80 North End Road Ltd – are still being pursued by the council for failing to obtain a scaffolding licence. They face a £5,000 fine if found guilty.