An art-deco house has been saved from possible demolition after a campaign by local conservation groups.
Built in 1936, 10 Dorchester Drive in Herne Hill was recently sold to a new owner prompting local groups to fear it could be redeveloped.
But the property received Grade II listed status on June 13, offering it more protection against dramatic changes.
A spokesperson for the 20th Century Society (C20), which helped lead the campaign with the Herne Hill Society, said their success “really shows the power of collective action against the threat of demolition”.
The £1.6 million home was based on a design that won the Daily Mail’s 1934 ‘Ideal Home Exhibition’.
Its surviving original features include a ‘sun trap’ bay window, a retro bathroom and a ground floor plan that can be opened up into a expansive entertainment space.
Neighbours told local conservation groups that it could be getting altered after workmen informed them they intended to strip the inside of the property.
The C20 Society lobbied Lambeth Council to issue a Building Preservation Notice (BPN), to protect it from demolition while being assessed by Historic England.
Lambeth Council acted fast and obtained the BPN in February 2020. Historic England then recommended it be preserved for its historical significance.
Ian McIness, chair of the 20th Century Society, said: “It’s still there pretty much untouched and it’s a special building because there are not many from that period.”
The property was built by Leslie H Kemp and Frederick E Tasker in collaboration with the builders Messrs Morrell.
The two architects and Messrs Morrell used Dorchester Drive as a showcase for their various designs. Neighbouring Dorchester Court and Dorchester House were also built as collaborations between Kemp, Tasker and the Morrell brothers.
Together, these buildings illustrate a range of 1930s approaches to residential buildings on a single street.