Developer takes on council to knock down his Ascot mansion

A millionaire developer has gone to court in a bid to get the green light to swing a wrecking ball at his $8m “magnificent estate” in Brisbane’s upmarket Ascot.

The home, on Anthony St at Ascot, has landscaped gardens and an in-ground swimming pool across four lots on 1578 sqm of land.

A millionaire developer has gone to court in a bid to get the green light to swing a wrecking ball at his $8m “magnificent estate” which his family has called home for more than 30 years.

Cleighton Clark, founder of Habitat Development Group (Habitat), which builds apartments on the Sunshine Coast, filed an appeal in the Planning and Environment Court on May 22.

Mr Clark’s family has lived on the "magnificent estate" for more than 30 years.

He is appealing the Brisbane City Council’s April 30 decision to knock back his application to knock down the 86-year-old mansion called ‘Lorne’ on Anthony Street in Ascot.

The original house was designed by architect Roy Ashley Shaw in 1936 and built

by Blair Cunningham, and was lived in by the Campbell family from 1939, documents filed with council state.

The home was listed for sale last year for $7.65m.

Mr Clark’s parents David and Helen bought the five-bedroom home in December 1992, council documents state.

Property records state that the home is owned jointly by Mr Clark with his brother Steele and Melita Hollands.

The real estate listing last year said it was the first time the property had hit the market in 32 years.

The home has landscaped gardens and an in-ground swimming pool across four lots on 1578 sqm and has a nearly 38-metre frontage to Anthony Street.

It was listed for sale in October last year for $7.65m and described as “the embodiment of Ascot living”.

Habitat Development Group Managing director Cleighton Clark.

The advertising listing states the home has views “east towards Moreton Bay” as well as high ceilings, detailed cornicing and original flooring.

“This magnificent family estate is offered to the market for the first time in 32 years,” the ad stated last year.

“The proposed demolition will allow for the future redevelopment of the site in a manner that is consistent with the planning framework and character expectations for the locality,” according to an assessment report written by development consultancy Project Urban for Mr Clark and filed with council.

The house sits within a traditional building character overlay and is on land at 89A, 91, 93 and 95 Anthony St.

95 Anthony St Ascot

In its refusal the BCC stated that the demolition of Lorne would “result in the loss of traditional building character and fails to protect a building constructed in 1946 or earlier where it forms a part of a character streetscape”.

Inside the home.

In his appeal Mr Clark submits that the home “has been substantially altered and no longer has the appearance of being constructed in 1946 or earlier”, referring to alterations in 1967 or 1993.

Inside the Ascot home.

“Polystyrene facade decoration has been added to the street facing and northern facades which include fluted columns, arches, engaged pilasters, keystones, entry pediments, dentils, cornices and window hoods,” his appeal states.

Mr Clark is the founder of Habitat which is regularly ranked in Top 10 builders of apartments in the country by the Housing Industry Association, its website states.

No date has been set to hear the appeal.

Originally published as Developer takes on council to knock down his Ascot mansion