40 Chelsea Square - Knight Frank

PART 2
40 CHELSEA SQUARE (freehold value)
Introduction
23. Chelsea Square is a residential square with central garden situated midway between
Fulham Road and Kings Road and to the west of Sydney Street. The houses are generally
standard two or three storey terraced houses with the exception of those in the south western
corner where there is a group of larger and more distinctive houses, including the appeal
property (40 Chelsea Square) and the comparables mainly relied upon by the parties. On the
south side of the square, also with frontage to Manresa Road, is the former Chelsea campus of
King’s College, London now being redeveloped as flats.
24. The south west corner of Chelsea Square was originally the site of Katherine Lodge
demolished in 1930s. In the grounds were built two houses designed by Oliver Hill FRIBA,
Vernon House (now the appeal property) and no 41 Chelsea Square. There is continuity of
design between the houses.
25. 40 Chelsea Square is a mainly two storey, neo-Georgian house of white painted stucco
with a pantile roof. The house is relatively narrow and occupies the full width of the site. At
the rear is an attractive, secluded garden of approximately one quarter of an acre. Internally,
there was little (if any) change since the house was built in 1934 until alterations were carried
out by Mr Arbib. The Grade II* listing in July 1981 records that the “fine interior survives
intact.” That is still the position. Before alteration the principal accommodation comprised:
reception hall, drawing room, dining room, study or morning room, kitchen and staff sitting
room on the ground floor; five bedrooms (two with bathroom), dressing room and bathrooms
on the first floor; and three bedrooms on the second floor, with a cellar and two garages. The
agreed gross internal floor area is 5,798 sq ft.
26. Since 6 July 1981 40 Chelsea Square has been listed as a building of special architectural
or historic interest, Grade II*. On 5 March 1998 conditional listed building consent was
granted for works described as “removal of internal wall to form larger kitchen, relocation of
bathroom fixtures, formation of new bathroom and bedroom at attic floor level.” By a licence
dated 31 March 1998 consent was given for “minor internal alterations at ground, first and attic
floor levels” and under a licence dated 26 January 1999 for “minor alterations comprising the
installation of air-conditioning to serve attic, study and first floor master bedroom together with
the construction of a pergola to the height of the existing trellising, a non-glazed gazebo and
water feature to rear garden.”
Evidence
27. Mr Arbib gave evidence regarding the works he carried out at a cost of £1,047,325.82
plus VAT of £125,224.01. Security works cost an additional £70,692.25. Mr Arbib also gave
details of the fees charged by his interior decorator. The total costs was just under £1.4m.
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