Campaign started to save historic Brighton home from demolition
A Brighton home once owned by a prominent early 20th century journalist, radio playwright and actor is facing the wrecking ball to make way for two townhouses. But a group of residents are fighting to save it.
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A Brighton home once owned by a prominent early 20th century journalist, radio playwright and actor is facing the wrecking ball.
But a group of residents are campaigning to save it.
The house — at 38 Grosvenor St, Brighton — is earmarked for demolition to make way for two townhouses.
Bayside Council has so far received 35 objections to the proposal.
Campaign spokeswoman Caroline Shepard said residents were desperate to save the 1929 home.
Ms Shepard said the house was part of a heritage precinct and an example of “Tudor Revival” — modelled on the half-timbered farm houses of England and Normandy.
She said the home’s first owner was Esme Johnson — a famous journalist, radio playwright and actor — which added to “its great importance”.
“Esme designed and helped with the building of this unique house, sourcing building materials in second-hand yards … which was a very unusual situation in the 1920s and 30s,” Ms Shepard said.
A recent planning scheme amendment for the “Grosvenor Estate” heritage precinct lists 23 homes as significant.
Ms Johnson’s home was considered for protection under the amendment but an independent panel recommended it be removed “as it did not contribute to the architectural value of the precinct which is primarily Edwardian architecture”.
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However long-standing heritage consultant Rohan Storey has now written to the council to argue the home is significant in its own right and should be saved.
Bayside planning and amenity director Hamish Reid said the council was investigating the merits of a heritage overlay for the property, and the planning proposal will be decided upon on July 16.
KG Architecture’s Kirsten Grant, who submitted the planning application, declined to comment.
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