BBC Fame Academy: From Poor Talent To Rich Owners
THE neo-Georgian property which was used as the setting for the BBC’s hideous Fame Academy series is set to become Britain’s most expensive home.
Property developer Marcus Cooper plans to turn Witanhurst, in Highgate, into London’s first £150million home.
The 1913 property, the second-largest private residence in the capital after Buckingham Palace, is set in five and a half acres. The house itself covers almost 40,000 sq feet, boasting 65 rooms on three floors, including 25 bedrooms, a library, a gym and a sauna.
Cooper, who has bought Witanhurst for £32million, says: “We are planning to carry out major renovation and redevelopment to create London’s first £150 million estate. We will be working with architects and interior designers to create a bespoke and outstanding residence in the middle of Highgate, including all the amenities one would expect.”
Charlie Ellingworth, of PropertyVision, a company which finds homes for uber-rich clients, says: “The obvious buyers would be Russian or Middle Eastern. But there are a lot of very rich people out there. If you are a billionaire, £150 million is small change.”
As well as Fame Academy, the house has also been used as a location for a number of big budget costume dramas such as Tipping the Velvet and Nicholas Nickleby.
Rumours abound that the house remains haunted by the dead careers of former Fame Academy winners David Sneddon and Alex Parks (yes, I did have to look them up).
Posted: 20th, July 2007 | In: Money Comments (4) | TrackBack | Permalink
