BBCThe tower block which many fans will recognise as the iconic setting for Only Fools and Horses is being demolished.
Harlech Tower, which was used as the fictional Nelson Mandela House where Derek Trotter and his family lived, is being torn down to make way for new flats.
Although Del Boy’s home was supposed to be in Peckham, south-east London, the actual tower block stands 13 miles away in Ealing, in the west of the capital.
As reported by the Daily Mail, the flats are part of Acton Gardens, which has been undergoing redevelopment since 2012.
Ealing Council originally granted outline planning permission for 1,950 homes in December, with more than 3,000 planned for the future.
Approximately half of the new homes will be sold to private buyers and the rest are proposed to be affordable housing for the estate’s 5,000 existing residents.
The new homes are expected to be finished in the mid-2020s, at which point they’re expected to be worth about £1 billion. Blimey.
BBCBarton Willmore, who secured planning permission on behalf of Acton Gardens LLP, said it was a ‘major step forward for the redevelopment.
Bob McCurry, planning director, said:
The council’s resolution to grant planning permission for this exemplar scheme not only heralds a milestone in the continued regeneration of this area, but also means we are a step closer to delivering new homes for 8,000 people and helping to provide a large proportion of the Borough’s affordable housing provision.
BBCMark Ludlow of Acton Gardens LLP, added:
We genuinely welcome Ealing Council’s decision which enables us to create more affordable and private homes at Acton Gardens, without comprising on quality, design and public amenities.
London’s housing needs have changed considerably since the original masterplan was conceived, so this revised masterplan will deliver a scheme that more closely matches the community’s needs and desires.
The complex and lengthy application process has been skilfully managed by Barton Willmore with the desired result that new homes can be delivered for those looking to live in this thriving location.
BBCThe homes are being built ‘tenure blind’, which means new private owners will be living alongside council tenants.
It’s likely the news will cause upset to a lot of Only Fools and Horses fans – and trust me, there are a lot!
It was revealed last year that the show is Britain’s favourite sitcom.
For those who are unfamiliar with the immensely popular television series – although I’m not sure how any Brit could have avoided it – the show ran from 1981 to 2003, and followed rogue traders Del Boy and Rodney, along with Uncle Albert and their mates.
Audiences loved to see the adventures of Trotter’s Independent Traders, so it’s no wonder it topped the poll with more than a third of the vote.
BBCConducted by Samsung, the survey asked 2,000 Brits what their favourite sitcom was to celebrate World Television Day.
Spokesman Steve Mitchell said:
World Television Day is a great time to look back on some of the great shows we have watched in 2017 but also reflect on some of our favourite series of all time.
It’s great to see old classics, such as Only Fools & Horses, still entertaining the nation years after they were made.
The popular show beat the John Cleese classic Fawlty Towers, which came in at second place, as well as Rowan Atkinson’s Blackadder which took third.
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