Residents win battle against plans to ‘mutilate’ homes on Kilburn estate with cladding

Residents launched a petition campaign in September to block Camden Council's plans to clad the estate (Image: Archant)

More than 40 leaseholders on the Mortimer Estate in Kilburn are celebrating after Camden council scrapped its plans to install white external insulation cladding to cut fuel bills for residents on the seven-block estate.

In September residents had claimed the cladding would “mutilate” the appearance of the 1950’s estate, would have minimal impact on fuel bills and objected to a leaseholder’s charge of between £5,500 and £9,700 each to carry out the work.

Speaking after Camden council withdrew their application, residents sent a “huge thank you” to the Brent & Kilburn Times for backing their petition campaign which also involved a bid to list their estate with English Heritage.

War veteran Doug Radcliffe MBE, 91, who has lived on the estate with his son Greg for more than thirty years said: “We are all very pleased about the decision. It was all down to very hard work. We don’t see it as a victory, just common sense.

“We used all the methods we could to stop it.”

Greg Radcliffe,56, who led a joint campaign with residents at the Dobson Close estate in Swiss Cottage described his relief at the successful result.

He said: “It was just a no-no from the start when you think about the financial and aesthetic implications.

“We needed to make a stand.”

Councillor Pat Callaghan, Camden Council Cabinet Member for Housing, said:“Following feedback from residents, and the three local councillors, regarding the proposed external wall insulation at the Mortimer Estate the Council decided not to progress the scheme.”

“However we will continue to develop insulation projects elsewhere within the borough, following the success of similar schemes such as Denton Low Rise, Plender Court and Kilburn Gate.”