Plans to redevelop a site historically linked to the real-life inspiration for Professor Moriarty have sparked significant concerns among members of Wandsworth Council's Conservation and Heritage Advisory Committee. The proposal for land to the rear of two Altenburg Gardens, once home to notorious international crook Adam Worth, involves converting existing workshop and office buildings into residential units.
The committee met on Thursday, September 10, 2026, to discuss the plans, which aim to create two two-bedroom units and one five-bedroom unit. The existing two-storey office buildings will be retained and refurbished, while the workshop building will be demolished and the site lowered to accommodate a second storey. Extensions and significant glazing are planned for the office buildings, and the workshop building will be replaced by a two-storey structure with a large front window and a single-storey extension.
However, major points of contention arose regarding the clarity of the submitted drawings and the potential impact on neighbouring properties. Committee members found it almost impossible to work out what effect it was going to have
from the provided sections and elevations, with one member spending about three hours trying to work out... what the hell was going on
. The committee agreed that improved, more readily readable
drawings were essential before any consent could be granted.
Concerns were also raised about overlooking and the potential loss of daylight and sunlight for adjacent residents. The Battersea Society, in their objection, noted that the development would be more obtrusive to the houses that back onto it
. Despite these concerns, the committee noted the historical significance of the site and welcomed the conservation aspects of the redevelopment, stating that the proposed development is unlikely to have an adverse effect on the conservation area.
Mr. Armstrong highlighted the site's historical importance, noting it is the remaining ground of West Lodge
, one of the villas built in the 18th century. Some of its late 19th-century garden buildings remain, and one of its last 19th-century residents was Henry J. Raymond, the alias for Adam Worth, known as the 'Napoleon of Crime'. Worth's residency and his notoriety as the inspiration for Conan Doyle's Moriarty have led to a suggestion that the developer be encouraged to record this historical connection on the site.
Further details on the committee's discussions can be found in the Supplementary Agenda to the Applications Paper Supplementary Agenda to the Applications Paper 10th-Sep-2026 19.00 Conservation and Heritage Advis and the Agenda frontsheet Agenda frontsheet 10th-Sep-2026 19.00 Conservation and Heritage Advisory Committee.