The subterranean Slytherin extension strikes again. Back in July, JK Rowling’s Kensington neighbours did battle with BlackOnyx Developments, which hoped to build two large “concrete bunkers”, reminiscent of the Slytherins’ dungeon dormitory, beneath a Grade II-listed Georgian house in Pembroke Square.
The local residents defeated the plans submitted this summer but, just like Harry Potter’s nemesis You-Know-Who, BlackOnyx has now returned to the square with an almost identical proposal. This second application has received even more objections than the first, however Kensington and Chelsea council has just produced a report recommending that the application be accepted at its planning meeting next week.
Those who live in the square fear that the extensive drilling work could dangerously disturb the foundations of the adjacent properties. MPs such as Kensington’s Sir Malcolm Rifkind are currently hoping to get a private members’ bill through Parliament which aims to stop London’s subterranean expansion by highlighting “the damage caused by excessive basement developments”.
Rowling refrained from publicly campaigning against the summer proposal but will she step in and lead the battle this time? “Pembroke Square has no basements at the moment,” explains one of her neighbours. “If this application goes though there could be a tsunami of development in a Georgian square with shaky 1820 foundations.”
BlackOnyx was unavailable for comment at the time of going to press.
