Investor-developer, Bentry Capital, has purchased Branch Hill House in Hampstead Village with plans to deliver a gated scheme of premium lateral apartments set in 1.7 acres of landscaped gardens.
The freehold site has lapsed planning consent (originally granted in 2021) for residential redevelopment, with the deal agreed in just 13 working days prior to the 2025 Autumn Budget. The development, named No.1 Hampstead, will form part of a new collection, Bentry Heritage, comprised of historic buildings converted into residential schemes, and part of Bentry Capital’s £500million (GDV) development portfolio across London and regional cities.
The Edwardian mansion provides 23,456 sq ft of accommodation and was built in 1901 by Ernest Flint and architect Henry Flitcroft for banking tycoon John Nivison, 1st Baron Glendyne. The architecture is reminiscent of Sandringham House, which was remodelled around the same time (1900), and is complemented by a modern wing (c.1967) added by Camden London Borough Council.
Branch Hill House has a rich history, with the first manor house on the site built in 1741 for judge Sir Thomas Clark, Master of the Rolls. The property was later the London home of Fitton Gerard, the 3rd Earl of Macclesfield, and wealthy Hampstead merchant Sir Thomas Neave. In 1964, the council purchased the Edwardian mansion, and the house became a care home which operated until 2015.
Bentry will carefully restore the original Edwardian mansion and its period features, with the 1960s extension replaced by a new-build wing that will echo the Edwardian architecture.
Subject to planning, the development will comprise around 50 new-build one, two and three-bedroom lateral apartments, complemented by a standalone townhouse, a concierge foyer and landscaped gardens.
Award-winning architectural practice and heritage specialist, Stanhope Gate Architecture, who designed the original redevelopment masterplan, will work with Bentry Capital to revive the lapsed planning consent and enhance the unit mix. Construction will be led by Bentry Capital’s in-house arm, Mellior Group, with an anticipated three-year build programme.
David Ronson, national director of sales & marketing at Bentry Capital, said: “Bentry Capital are pleased to have acquired Branch Hill House, a site that garnered strong interest from competing bidders. Working closely with our legal partners at Pinsent Masons — particularly Timm Webb and Emma Maher — enabled us to complete the transaction in a swift fashion. Once fully restored and extended, Branch Hill House will bring a grand Sandringham-style residence offering premium apartments to the Hampstead market. This will be one of the most exclusive residential schemes in the area, and we anticipate significant interest.”
Amarveer Singh Pannu, co-founder and director of Bentry Capital, said: “We are delighted to have acquired Branch Hill House, a magnificent Edwardian manor house, with a vision to transform it into Hampstead’s finest premium residential development. The site is in a prime location in sought-after Hampstead Village, and the existing building has a rich heritage and beautiful architecture. We know that local buyers are seeking luxurious homes in gated communities without onerous service charges, and we look forward to bringing No.1 Hampstead to life.”
