Cone You Believe It?

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Fulham's Most Famous Loos Set to Become Ice Cream Parlour

Fulham's most famous loos, Walham Green Toilets in Vanston Place are set to be transformed into an ice cream parlour.

The dilapidated building at the foot of North End Road was sold this month at auction for an astonishing £585,000.

The buyer was Italian businessman Luciano Lo Dico who already runs two ice cream parlours in Kensington and Chiswick.

Planning permission has previously been granted to demolish the Victorian toilets and built new premises with a roof terrace, which would look out over the busy North End Road.

Mr Lo Dico says: " It is a very good location and the rooftop would be perfect for eating ice-cream and watching the world go by.”

Auctioneers Allsop, who sold the dilapidated property at a commercial auction held in the Park Lane Hotel, Piccadilly on Tuesday February 5, had listed it with a guide price of just £190,000 - £200,000.

Allsop said there was "very competitive bidding on the lot".

This is not the first time the building has fetched an unexpectedly high price at auction. Nearly five years ago, in October 2008, it was sold by Hammersmith and Fulham Council for £403,000  - four times the amount expected by the council.

The building, which has since stood empty, was described by Allsop as a freehold development opportunity in a very prominent corner position with full planning consent for a restaurant with public alfresco roof terrace.

 

Allsop's description continued: The property is arranged on ground and basement floors. The property benefits from full detailed planning consent and conservation area consent which was approved on 16th July 2012 (Ref Nos: 2012/01457/FUL and 2012/01458/CAC) and which can be viewed on the Hammersmith & Fulham planning website for the demolition of the existing building and erection of an enlarged replacement single storey building, including a roof terrace at first floor level in connection with the use of the building as a restaurant (Class A1, A2 & A3) and the retention of the existing basement. 

Mr Lo Dico may be happy to know that the building may have more planning potential. Allsop said: The property could benefit from further development potential in addition to the existing planning permission for a residential unit on the first floor (subject to obtaining all necessary consents). The Vendor's architects have drawn up a two storey scheme with a two bedroom, two bathroom flat on the first floor. Copies of these drawings can be viewed online in the legal pack.

 

 

February 15, 2013