The Hampstead Garden Suburb Trust

Coronavirus (COVID-19) updates

Last updated Tuesday 10 March 2021

Trust staff working remotely

Following the latest government guidance outlined on Monday 4 January 2021, the majority of Trust office staff are working remotely where possible, however we are still able to handle the majority of our usual functions during this time.

There will inevitably be some delays to some of our procedures during this time with reduced access to office files, so we would be grateful for your patience while we assist you.

Staff can be contacted via their usual email addresses, or you can send a message to mail@hgstrust.org if you do not know who you need to speak to. Messages can be left on the office answerphone, but email is the most efficient way to contact us at present.

Tree appointments and architectural site visits

These visits can still go ahead subject to agreement between both parties. Trust staff and contractors will follow government advice while carrying out these visits. If you have an appointment booked over the next few weeks and wish to check it or re-arrange it, please email mail@hgstrust.org

Central Square tennis courts

The Trust's Central Square tennis courts will reopen from Monday 29 March, and the online booking system has reopened allowing bookings to made up to three weeks ahead of time.

Gardening

Gardening and other maintenance which is carried out by the Trust's contractors will continue as normal, where they can safely operate in line with government restrictions.

Protecting one of the most perfect examples of the unique English invention and speciality - the garden suburb

The importance of Hampstead Garden Suburb in the history of 20th Century architecture and town planning cannot be overestimated. The brainchild of Henrietta Barnett, the Suburb was to be a model community with people of all classes living together in beautiful houses set in a verdant landscape. Laid out by Raymond Unwin, with Edwin Lutyens, the houses and flats represent the best of English domestic architecture of the early twentieth century.

Today, it is an environment of international significance. The eminent architectural historian, Sir Nikolaus Pevsner, described it as "the most nearly perfect example of that English invention and speciality, the garden suburb".

The Hampstead Garden Suburb Trust was set up in 1968 "to do all things possible to maintain and preserve the present character and amenities" of Hampstead Garden Suburb. The Trust operates a Scheme of Management, which ensures that the architectural standards of the Suburb's founders are maintained. The Trust publishes policies for the protection of the character of the Suburb and householders must obtain the Trust's approval before making changes to the external appearance of their property.