Developers are restoring a St John’s Wood landmark to its original splendour with five luxury flats due to go on sale.
And purchasers of an apartment at Connaught House in St John’s Wood Terrace could move into in the space where Queen’s Radio Ga Ga video was worked on.
The building with its grand Corinthian columns and neo-classical façade dates back to 1841 and started life as a congregational chapel.
But it closed in 1922 amid dwindling worshippers, and over the decades had a varied history as a squash club, theatrical scenery workshop, carpenter’s workshop and ballet practice studio.
Then in the late 1950s it was extended and converted into a film studios.
St John’s Wood Studios had two sound stages where classics such as Peter Cook and Dudley Moore’s 1967 comedy Bedazzled were filmed.
By 1973 the studios had closed but video company Transvision moved in and it is here that pop videos such as Ultravox’s Vienna and David Bowie’s Ashes to Ashes were edited.
The company was then taken over by Carlton Television and in 1983 the video for Queen’s hit song was made by splicing together footage from the silent film Metropolis with images of the band famously travelling in a flying car and the crowd synchronized clapping.
Although most of the video was shot at Shepperton Studios, other filming and work was done in St John’s Wood.
Thanks to its MTV-friendly imagery the song was a hit in 19 countries.
The studios were later used to broadcast local TV bulletins and live Disney Channel shows but the broadcasters left for larger premises in 2004 and the former chapel was the subject of several planning applications before it was converted into five flats.
The Ham&High reported it was on sale in 2024 with a guide price of £20 million and was bought by Marcus Cooper Group.
Part of the revamp will include restoring the building’s cupola, which was removed in 1922, while the apartments will feature private terraces, landscaped gardens and a concierge service.
Alex Michelin, co-founder of Valouran who are restoring the building, said: “Connaught House breathes new life into a distinguished St. John’s Wood landmark, transforming a historic building for a vibrant 21st-century future.
“Across nearly two centuries, this building has acted as a beacon of the local community, from chapel to squash club, theatre workshop and later a film and TV studio.
“Our sensitive restoration has given us the opportunity to celebrate a site’s unique heritage while delivering some of London’s most prestigious private residences to be enjoyed for generations to come.”
