A RAFT of objections have been lodged to plans to build extra floors on mansion blocks in the Maida Vale Conservation Area.

Freeholder Parkcity’s project at Lauderdale Mansions, Lauderdale Road, was dismissed and later again rejected on appeal due to “poor standard” designs two years ago.

New plans have cut the number of homes from nine to four that would be built in roof extensions of the Edwardian blocks, with rear terrace redevelopments, fire escapes and solar panels on the roofs.

The city council said the proposals now “provide a good standard of accommodation and have a minimal impact” but objectors still say the project “will undermine the symmetry and beauty of our street” by disrupting the row of “matched mansions”.

Lauderdale Mansions (West) Ltd – the residents’ association / management company for the subject building – said the project would “result in harm to the significance of the Maida Vale Conservation Area”, a clear reason for refusing the application “on heritage grounds”.

More than 300 objections have been filed since the start of the plans.

Resident Nigel Head said: “The pleasingly visual coherence of this building and its surroundings would be gravely altered for the worse and it seems to me that only greed could overcome aesthetic objections which we, the local residents would have to live with, not the developers. Additionally many people visit this area for its renowned beauty which must be conserved.”

Another said: “I am very surprised that Westminster Council would even entertain such a desecration as this to a too, too, rare mansion block. London has only a few of these spectacular intact structures and this proposal serves to undermine the design, comfort and integrity of the original buildings.”

Another cited noise, light and structural concerns: “These are not matters of preference or inconvenience, they go to the integrity of my home, the safety of the building I live in, and the character of a neighbourhood that this authority has a statutory duty to protect.”

A new daylight report said assessments to the neighbouring residents demonstrated acceptable levels of daylight and sunlight will be retained “in the proposed condition”, and “adjoining occupants will not experience noticeable reductions in daylight or sunlight, meeting the BRE [Building Research Establishment] guidelines.”

The Westminster City Council report said: “While it is recognised there will be some impact on neighbouring residents from the capping of the lightwells, lifts and fire escape, it is not considered the impacts would be unacceptable.”

Parkcity have been told they must pay £437,800 to get out of including any affordable housing.