Demolition plans for Mole Man’s Hackney home

A planning application to demolish ‘Mole Man’s’ dilapidated house and build a block of flats in the Kingsland conservation area has been lodged with Hackney Council.

Eccentric William Lyttle, gained worldwide fame after he spent 40 years digging a 60-foot network of tunnels beneath his �1 million house in Mortimer Road.

He died in June without repaying the �350,000 of taxpayers’ money he owed the council for saving the building from collapse.

A search ensued to track down his next of kin - who have now appointed administrator Mr A Fraser, to work on their behalf.

Mr Fraser is also the director of property developers Simnat plc in Clerkenwell.

He lodged a planning application last week to demolish the dilapidated unsafe building - which is still surrounded by scaffolding - and build a block of eight two-bedroom flats.

Members of the public have until October 25 to comment on the application.