Land for sale

Lingham Street, Stockwell Green, London SW9

Freehold For Sale by Informal Tender of interest to occupiers and developers.

An outstanding opportunity to acquire a former church & church hall complex.
Site description

A rare collection of buildings in a regarded South London location for owner occupation or as a redevelopment/ refurbishment/break up opportunity comprising a former Church, Church Hall and Cottage. Considered suitable for development or owner occupation for a range of uses including a continuation of its existing planning uses being Class F1 (Religious and Education); Class F2 (Community Use) and Class C3 (Residential) or potentially other alternative uses, including Class E (Day Nursery) and Class C2 (Residential Care).

Total Gross Internal Area:
16,282 sq ft (1,512.6 sq m) across 3 separate buildings

Total Site Area:
0.365 acres (0.148 Hectares)

Arranged as a “campus”, the opportunity comprises three interlinked elements which could be sold either as a whole or as two separate lots with St Andrew’s Church sold as one lot, the other lot being Hammerton Hall together with The Caretaker’s Cottage.

St Andrew’s Church - an impressive and substantial period Church which was constructed as a Chapel in 1767 and later remodelled and enlarged in 1861 in the Italianate style. The accommodation is arranged across basement, ground, first (mezzanine /choir gallery) and second floors and with an impressive bell tower. It is understood that the Church was built to accommodate up to 1,000 worshippers. The Church, which extends to 6,605 sq ft (613.6 sq m) now needs significant repair, in particular the roof to the Bell Tower requires a complete overhaul and there is no functioning heating system. The Church is not Statutorily Listed but is designated by the London Borough of Lambeth as a Non-Statutory Heritage Asset (Locally Listed). The Church lies in the Stockwell Green Conservation Area.

Hammerton Hall - an imposing brick-built two-storey hall beneath a flat roof, constructed in 1906 as a community hall by a well-known local brewing family of the time. The accommodation, which extends to 8,750 sq ft (812.9 sq m) gia is arranged across ground, first (gallery) and second floors. Most of the accommodation on the ground floor is configured as an open-plan hall with a stage area and supported by other partitioned areas to include WCs. On the second floor, the floor space has been subdivided into separate areas. The property benefits from an impressive ceiling height. The hall is in an extremely poor state of repair having been previously the subject of unauthorized entry and graffiti. As is evident from inspection, the existing flat roof and associated parapet has failed in places which has permitted rainwater ingress. If the building were to be retained, it would require a full programme of modernisation and refurbishment. There is no functioning heating system. The Property is not in the Stockwell Green Conservation Area but, like the Church, is Locally Listed.

Caretaker’s Cottage - an attractive unmodernised, 2-bedroom cottage also built in 1906 and arranged across the ground and first floor extending to 927 sq ft (86.1 sq m). It is of brick construction with characteristic Dutch Gable Ends beneath a natural slate roof. The property presents as a shell and requires an extensive programme of modernisation and repair but once refurbished would make a charming family home. There is no functioning heating system, kitchen or bathroom to this property. The Property is not in the Stockwell Green Conservation Area but like the Church, it is Locally Listed.
Outside

The entire site extends to 0.365 acres (0.148 hectares) with vehicular and pedestrian access from Lingham Street and further pedestrian/vehicular access to the Church only from Landor Street.
Tenure

Freehold with full vacant possession. Interested Parties are advised that any transfer will contain certain restrictive covenants including as to future use and naming rights, the details of which can be obtained from the selling agents.

There are no individual Tree Preservation Orders on the site. It is understood that the Church building’s last planning would be Class FI and Class F2 for Hammerton Hall and with the Caretaker’s Cottage, Class C3.
Services

It is assumed that all mains’ services are available to the property or can be brought into the site, but it will be the purchaser’s responsibility to satisfy them as to their availability and adequacy. None of the services have been tested.
VAT

At the current time, none of the buildings have been elected for VAT.
Flood risk

Fluvial and surface water flooding is detailed as ‘very low’. (UK Government Flood Risk Service).
Additional information

A password protected data room is available. Please contact the selling agent.
EPC rating

St Andrew’s Church – Exempt (Place of Worship)
Hammerton Hall - Rated G
Caretakers Cottage - Rated E
Rateable value

None of the properties currently appear on the published rating list.
Condition

The buildings are in a state of significant disrepair. No warranty is given as to the condition of the building and purchasers should satisfy themselves in this respect. There are no current building surveys that are available.
Location

Prominently located on the corner of Lingfield Street and Landor Road in the favoured Stockwell Green area - one of the oldest settled parts of south London. Once a small rural hamlet, it still retains traces of its early shape and character, with elegant Georgian and early Victorian buildings gathered around the line of the old green.

Living in Stockwell offers the best of inner south London: Excellent transport, a strong community identity, distinctive local food and culture, and easy access to Brixton, Clapham and central London. With its mix of lively everyday life, green spaces and historic streets, Stockwell is both practical and characterful - a neighbourhood that feels connected, diverse and genuinely lived in. Stockwell is also known for its long-established Portuguese-speaking community, where cafés, bakeries, bars and food shops give the area a distinctive “Little Portugal” feel providing great local places to eat and shop, and a neighbourhood that feels culturally rich.

The site is located in Zone 2 just 0.3 miles from Stockwell Station served by both the Northern & Victoria Lines providing excellent connections to The City & West End. Bus Routes 2,50,88,155,196,322,333,345 and P5, plus night routes N2 and N155 give residents easy and regular access across London.
Planning context

The property lies within the jurisdiction of the London Borough of Lambeth. Historically, the Church had been in dialogue with the lpa, (after it took the decision to the end the use of the Church for active worship and the closure of Hammerton Hall), to seek guidance on the possible options as to a range of alternative uses as well as the refurbishment and/or the redevelopment of the various elements of the site. Those discussions ceased several years ago and were not followed up by any planning applications. From the lpa’s perspective, they may be mindful of the following:

Any harm to the Stockwell Green Conservation Area and the street scene of which St Andrew’s church contributes an important part. Whilst Hammerton Hall and the Caretaker’s Cottage are not situated in the Conservation Area, they do immediately border it, and the lpa is likely to take that into consideration.
Any harm to the Non-Statutory (Locally Listed) buildings, although they do not enjoy the same level of protection as if they had been statutorily listed. It should be noted that the Church was put forward for listing in 2014, but this was rejected given that much of the originality had been lost following the subsequent remodelling.
The height and scale of any future redevelopment.
Whilst not listed or listable, St Andrew’s Church is the oldest building in the Conservation Area.
The loss of any community uses on the site albeit the buildings have not been in such use for many years.

There are no individual Tree Preservation Orders on the site. It is understood that the Church building’s last plan would be Class FI and Class F2 for Hammerton Hall and with the Caretaker’s Cottage, Class C3.
The opportunity

An unrivalled opportunity to acquire a rarely available collection of period buildings for occupiers, investors and developers to refurbish, covert and retain the existing for their continued Institutional/Community/Faith group use or their retention and/or the development for other uses subject to obtaining the necessary consent including residential development, C2 Care Use or as a Day Nursery within Class E or a combination of uses within the 3 separate buildings. The fact that there are 3 buildings affords significant flexibility and potential and/or a possible future breakup of the site.
Bid procedure

Any offer should specify the proposed use or uses, and the vendor will determine which, if any, offers are taken further. Any successful offeror will be asked to provide proof of funds along with the likely acceptability of their proposal by Lambeth Council’s planning authority. The vendor will also take into account the suitability of the proposed use in light of the previous religious use. A sale of the closed church building will then be conditional on the outcome of the publication of a draft legal Scheme under the provisions of the Mission and Pastoral Measure 2011, including a statutory period of public consultation, agreement of the Church Commissioners Standard Covenants, and the prospective purchaser being granted planning consent (if required) for their proposals.

Mission and pastoral measure 2011
St. Andrew’s Church is marketed on behalf of The South London Church Fund And Southwark Diocesan Board Of Finance and the Church Commissioners for England (charity registration number 1140097). The Diocese will review and present offers, accompanied by a recommendation, to the Church Commissioners who will act as vendor. It should be noted that a sale of St. Andrew’s Church will be subject to and in accordance with the provisions of The Church of England’s Mission and Pastoral Measure 2011 (a copy of which can be obtained from the agent and/or from the data room).
Viewings

Strictly by prior appointment
There will be a series of open days with pre-booked slots, the details of which can be obtained from the selling agents.
Charities act

The disposal of the property will be subject to the provisions and requirements of the Charities Act.
Method of sale

The property is to be sold via informal tender on a bid date to be advised. Given the Vendor’s charitable status clawback and/or overage provisions may be included as part of the sale contract.