Battle over patch of Hampstead Heath bequeathed by ‘UK’s richest tramp’

Harry Hallowes occupied the £2m spot
Roland Hoskins

A woodland glade saved from developers by the man dubbed Britain’s richest tramp is at risk of falling into private hands once more.

Harry Hallowes , who died in 2016 aged 88, bequeathed the land on Hampstead Heath to two charities, which have now put it up for auction.

The City of London Corporation, which manages the area in the north-east corner of the Heath, wants to ensure that public access is maintained — and that developers are discouraged from building on the land.

Mr Hallowes successfully claimed squatters’ rights to the 7,000 sq ft plot in 2007 after living there undisturbed for 20 years. His struggle against developers, who tried to evict him two years earlier, was turned into Hampstead, a film starring Diane Keaton and Brendan Gleeson, which came out last year.

An aerial picture shows the area ( ROLAND HOSKINS)
ROLAND HOSKINS

The land was once said to be worth up to £3.5 million but covenants and planning restrictions have devalued it because there are strict limits on how it can be used.

The land is being auctioned on Monday by Savills on behalf of Shelter and Centrepoint, with a guide price of £95,000.

Karina Dostalova, chairman of the Corporation’s Hampstead Heath management committee, said it had been in extensive negotiations with the charities to buy the land, but the offer was rejected.

Harry Hallowes pictured before his death

She told the Evening Standard: “We made a generous offer based on independent valuations, but they decided to proceed to auction anyway. We are very disappointed. Hampstead Heath is itself a charity. We work to protect it from development and to protect the ecology.

“We want to protect it as a green open space that everyone can enjoy.

“We worry if it goes to auction and ends up with a private buyer who has any kind of ideas about it, it would be unavailable for the public. It could really impact how the land is used.”

It is understood the Corporation could still place a bid but fears being outmuscled by a buyer with deeper pockets.

Shelter said it understood why the Corporation would like to purchase the land, but said it was obliged to get as much money as possible in the sale to “fulfil Harry’s wishes for his legacy to help homeless people”.

In a joint statement with Centrepoint, the charity said: “The land Harry left has important protections stopping development, so we are realistic about its value but we will put the funds raised directly into the vital work that Harry wanted to be his legacy.”

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