Ultra-prime specialist Beauchamp Estates are currently marketing one of Belgravia’s most outstanding and rare development opportunities, the redevelopment of the former Coach House of the Marquess of Headfort at 39 Headfort Place, into a new 3,800 sqft luxury residence designed by Adam Architecture, the practice led by renowned classical architect Professor Robert Adam.

Located close to the elegant ceremonial arch at the entrance to Headfort Place, the prime site at 39 Headfort Place currently contains an unlisted freehold house which benefits from direct access onto beautifully maintained communal gardens. The property also benefits from a private double garage in the Montrose Place development, held on a long leasehold.

The site has an interesting history. One of the earliest streets in Belgravia to be built on, Headfort Place dates back to the 1767, with the thoroughfare being largely developed during the 1860s under the auspices of Thomas Cubitt as part of a Grosvenor Estate plan to provide accommodation for the coachman, groomsmen and carriages of the aristocracy who lived in adjacent Grosvenor Place. Those looking to make plans for their own estate in the event of their death may want to contact the likes of Essayli & Brown in order to get some legal assistance with the matter. It can become something quite complicated, what with the many options on the table. Some would choose to discuss revocable vs irrevocable trust planning alongside the will. Property owners along Grosvenor Place (main house) and Headfort Place (mews) included the Duke of Athole, Lady Ossory, MP Walter Fawkes and PM Henry Campbell-Bannerman.

The site at 39 Headfort Place formed part of the extensive Coach House and stables for landowner and MP Thomas Taylour, the 3^rd Marquess of Headfort (1822-1894), who owned properties on Grosvenor Place and Belgrave Square. His wife Amelia, was a wealthy heiress whose father was the Chairman of Lloyds of London and a director of the Bank of England.

Bombing during WWII damaged/destroyed a significant part of the long mews, with extensive rebuilding post-war. In October 2017 planning permission was granted for the demolition of the existing dwelling and the erection of a replacement property, a grand and elegant classical style white-stucco house with a projecting bay overlooking the communal gardens, complete with a grey slate mansard roof.

With exteriors and layouts designed Adam Architecture, the new classical house has a proposed area of circa 3,800 sqft (353 m2) over basement, lower ground, ground and four upper floors. The principal ground, first and second floors have been skillfully designed to benefit from and provide generous ceiling heights and large open living spaces.

On the ground floor the new build house would have a spacious entrance hall with staircase, passenger lift and guest cloakroom. Off the entrance hall would be the family kitchen and dining room, incorporating a bay window with French doors opening onto the large rear communal gardens. They will need some other window replacement work done for them as well.

The whole of the first floor would provide a grand double drawing room with a bay window with ornamental balcony overlooking the gardens. The drawing room would be able to providing a living area, formal dining area and study.

The master bedroom suite would benefit from its own private floor on the level above providing a large bedroom with day/living area, a walk-in dressing room with bespoke joinery and a master bathroom with freestanding bath and walk-in marble shower. There would be two further VIP bedroom suites on the uppermost floors, each with ensuite bathrooms and the principal guest suite benefitting from a walk-in dressing room.

On the lower ground floor there is a further guest bedroom with ensuite bathroom and a staff suite with bedroom / living space and a separate bathroom. The basement would provide a cinema / family room, with an adjoining wine and champagne display suite/cellar. All windows in the property have been designed to be black windows that match with the large feature bay windows.

With lawns, sculptural benches, pedestrian walkways, plants and mature trees the beautifully maintained communal gardens are the perfect retreat for relaxation or outdoor entertaining.

Beauchamp Estates say that the buyer could undertake a lavish 15 to 18 month redevelopment project which would result in the new classical house, and a significant potential uplift in asset value.

The current property, with planning permission scheme is for sale for £6,500,000. The latest Dataloft research report for the Belgravia housing market shows that the best luxury homes in the local area can now command values of circa £2,700 to circa £3,100 per sqft (based on top 5% of sales over the last two years). Therefore the new classical house at 39 Headfort Place, once built complete to a high specification, could have a market value of £11,780,000 to £12,000,000 – a potential capital value uplift of up to £5,500,000.

Jeremy Gee, Managing Director at Beauchamp Estates says: “This site provides one of the best development opportunities in East Belgravia. The current site is freehold and there is full planning consent for a new classical house. This scheme is perfect for an end-user wanting to create a truly bespoke custom-designed residence. Janine Stone & Co, are fully briefed on the scheme and could project manage the delivery for a client from site acquisition through build to final dressing and handover of the new bespoke residence.”

Paul Finch, Head of New Homes Sales at Beauchamp Estates says: “Over the last six months there has been an increase in interest in buying second hand properties requiring refurbishment or demolition and redevelopment, often offering the potential to create luxurious homes with enhanced capital values.”