The iconic block of flats once home to Only Fools and Horses’ Del Boy and Rodney Trotter is set to be demolished.
Harlech Tower – located in Acton in West London – was used as the filming location for Peckham’s Nelson Mandela House in the BBC sitcom’s seven series run between 1981 to 1991. More than three decades on, however, it is set to be flattened to make way for a new £850 million residential flat building – opening in 2027.
As well as Del (Sir David Jason) and Rodney (Nicholas Lyndhurst), the flats were also home to their Uncle Albert (Buster Merryfield) and before him, Grandad Ted (Lennard Pearce). Harlech Tower was built shortly after World War 2 ended in 1945 as London saw significant redevelopment due to damage caused in the Blitz.
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Such flats became the perfect home for the show due to their condition and outdated look by the time John Sullivan had dreamt up the idea for the programme at the beginning of the 1980s.
(Image: BBC)
Ealing Council, the local authority in which Harlech Tower is found, has explained its demolition decision. “In 1949, work began to clear the old housing in South Acton and replace it with a new estate centred on large tower blocks of the kind that sprang up across the country after World War Two.
“The redevelopment took 30 years to complete [but] quickly fell into decline, suffering from the same fundamental design and social issues that blighted many post-war high-rise estates.”
(Image: MyLondon – Grahame Larter)
Ealing’s councillors have also attempted to reassure their constituents that the new properties will prove affordable, whilst existing tenants will be able to move in once the work is complete. “There will be twice as many homes at the rebuilt estate than before the regeneration programme started,” the statement added.
“More than 40% of all new homes will be genuinely affordable – in other words, let at social rent levels. The regeneration programme has proved popular with residents – the vast majority have requested a new home at the redeveloped estate. [The demolition] is provisionally earmarked for 2027.”
(Image: Getty Images)
Discussion plans for the redevelopment in 2020, Sir David commented: “Imagine my despair when I learned that Harlech Tower was slated for demolition, part of a £650million rejuvenation of the area.
“Asked to share my opinion of this scheme at the time, I said I thought the tower should become a listed building and have a preservation order on it, effectively saving the building for the nation. Did they listen? Did they heck.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
