‘Historic' home to be demolished despite estate agent's promise to elderly owners

Telegraph

2 days ago

A historic home is set to be demolished in spite of the developer's pledge to sell it to a family.
Eric Abbott, 94, lived in Hiawatha Cottage in Swanmore, Hants, for more than 60 years with his family, before agreeing to sell it on the condition that it went to a family who would enjoy it.
But Simon Smith, the new owner, has since applied to Winchester city council for permission to tear it down in favour of two two-storey newbuilds with four-bedrooms each, parking for three cars and gardens.
Mr Abbott, 94, a former company director, raised his family in the house with his wife Peggy before putting it on the market last year for £585,000.
In an objection he wrote against the planning application, Mr Abbott said: 'As the previous owner of Hiawatha I was totally dismayed to see the change of heart of the new owners attempting to destroy Hiawatha and replace with totally unsuitable houses.
'I instructed the estate agent to ensure my wonderful house was only sold to a family who would love it like I did and not destroy it.'
He claimed that the estate agent had assured him that the new owners wanted it to be 'their forever home', adding: 'All I ever wanted was for another family to love it like I had for the last 64 years.'
Mr Abbott added: 'I had been offered to sell to many builders and I declined as this house is party of history, it was there before chapel road was even made.
'I would never have sold it had I known this was their intention and they knew that.
'There is an ancient well that in the deeds demands that it should be operable for future water shortages in the village and this was a legal requirement.
'I believe Hiawatha was built in the 15th century it is a beautiful flint cottage which should not be replaced with two identical newbuilds.'
Neighbours have criticised the plans, claiming that they will not fit the character of the village, and will cause traffic problems on an already busy street around the corner from a primary school.
Houses on the street cost an average of £800,000, and some buildings in Swanmore – which is mentioned in the Domesday Book – date back to the 16th or early 17th centuries.
Villagers received flyers about the petition against the redevelopment, which has 931 signatures, through their letterboxes.
The flyers said the cottage was being 'flattened' and replaced with 'two modern, bland newbuilds'.
Two hundred objections
Almost a thousand people have signed a petition to stop the development and 200 objections were written during the public consultation period for the plans.
Neighbour David Hughes, 63, said the current cottage was 'unusual' but 'breaks up some of the monotony of the architecture'.
He added: 'If we're not careful, we'll have a lot of new houses here.'
Meanwhile, another neighbour, John Allen, 79, said the verbal agreement 'isn't worth the paper it's written on'.
On the planning application, Historic England said there is no evidence to indicate that the building predates the 19th century – it is believed to have been built between 1840 and 1868.
It said: 'The building does not illustrate an important aspect of the nation's history, nor does it have the historic associations with nationally important individuals, groups, or events, which might give it historic special interest.'
A decision is due to be made about the planning application on July 18.