The building firm behind the multi-million pound scheme to convert historic Richmond Royal Hospital into a 71 home housing scheme has been fined.

The development has been beset with problems and nuisance after the firm – Henry Construction Ltd - failed to abide by planning conditions for the scheme, which sits in a conservation area.

Apart from noise, construction traffic failed to follow a designated access route to the site causing jams and disruption to neighbours.

The restoration of Richmond Royal Hospital will see the historic site rebranded as Richmond Square. It will include 56 luxury private homes and another 15 affordable properties.

Apart from noise, construction traffic failed to follow a designated access route to the site causing jams and disruption to neighbours. Credit: Google Streetview.

The developers, who are selling the properties through Savills, describe it as a 'rare opportunity to live within the Kew Foot Road Conservation Area of Richmond upon Thames, one of London's most sought-after boroughs'.

It is described as: "An elegant collection of exceptional apartments and townhouses.

"A blend of new building and the restoration, conversion and enhancement of existing Grade II Listed and historic buildings of Merit, the exceptional residences of Richmond Square surround terraces and a tranquil landscaped courtyard."

Many of the properties have already been sold despite high asking prices starting at around £600,00 for a studio rising to £1.6m for larger properties.

The original house at the centre of the scheme was home to poet and playwright James Thomson, notable for authoring the poem Rule Britannia, between 1739 and 1748.

As well as homes, the mixed-use scheme includes a ground floor space for health services.

Richmond Council said: "Henry Construction Ltd started work on site in January 2021 and the Council began to receive reports of the designated access route not being followed, as well as other breaches of the management plan.

"Despite repeated warnings and meetings with Council officials, Henry Construction Ltd continued to breach the plan, leading to the Council serving a formal Breach of Condition Notice on them in February 2022.

"On the 20th June 2023 Henry Construction Projects Ltd was convicted, in absence, for six instances of breaching the notice, fined the maximum amount of £15,000 and ordered to pay the Council's costs."

Many of the properties have already been sold despite high asking prices starting at around £600,00 for a studio rising to £1.6m for larger properties. Credit: Google Streetview.

While the firm has been successfully prosecuted, it went bust earlier this month. The Council said the company is in administration and the fines are still liable to be paid, via the administrator.

Cllr Julia Neden-Watts, Chair of Richmond Council's Environment, Sustainability, Culture and Sport Committee, said: "We don't tolerate behaviours like this from developers or their contractors in Richmond upon Thames.

"New homes are very important for our borough, but they must come with minimal disruption to the existing community – that is why we have planning regulations and are able to apply conditions to planning permission. 

"I'm pleased we have been successful in court and I hope this serves to demonstrate how seriously we take breaches of our planning consents."