Townhouse Converted To Flats

London’s Townhouse Studios, which closed in 2008, is being converted into a block of luxury flats. Irish property company Perpetuum Developments, which paid £7.5 million ($12.7 million) for the building in Shepherds Bush Road, has planning permission for 11 apartments likely to fetch about £2 million apiece.

Photo: pinkfloydtouroflondon.com/

“Townhouse Studios offers the opportunity to redevelop this exciting landmark site into a luxury, residential-led development in the heart of London,” the sales document said. Local rock historian Adrian Bray told London Evening Standard it’s sad when historical heritage slowly slips from view.

“The Townhouse is not a beautiful building and its economic life is clearly over yet it’s significant,” he said. “The fact is that if the council let Hammersmith Palais disappear without a backward glance, this place didn’t have a chance.”

Built by Richard Branson’s Virgin label in 1978, The Townhouse was used to record some bestselling albums by the likes of Blur, Coldplay, The Jam, and Pulp.

In 1997 Elton John used it to record his Princess Diana tribute “Candle In The Wind.” Others who recorded in The Townhouse include Oasis, Robbie Williams, Kylie Minogue, Bryan Ferry, and Muse.