Haringey | Residential architect projects

At GOAStudio London residential architecture we have extensive experience with working with the Haringey planning department and we are familiar with all the relevant planning policies that might apply for your home project. Please see below links to some of our Haringey residential architect projects.

Your brief requirements, the setting of the property, and the immediate context of the property are some of the factors that will determine what home alterations the Haringey planners will be prepared to allow. We will advise you about what is reasonable to expect to get approval, what might be tricky but possible, and what most likely the planners will say no to.

According to the Haringey Council residential design guidance (Development Management DPD adopted July 2017) these are some of the key considerations that will determine the outcome of your planning application. Below we have copied and highlighted extracts of the most relevant current policy and advice for your home project.

EXAMPLES OF SOME OF OUR HARINGEY RESIDENTIAL ARCHITECT PROJECTS – PLEASE CLICK THE LINKS BELOW FOR IDEAS AND INSPIRATION

Summary planning and design guidelines | Haringey residential architect advice

Policy DM1: Delivering High Quality Design

A All new development and changes of use must achieve a high standard of design and contribute to the distinctive character and amenity of the local area. The Council will support design-led development proposals which meet the following criteria:

a Relate positively to neighbouring structures, new or old, to create a harmonious whole;

b Make a positive contribution to a place, improving the character and quality of an area;

c Confidently address feedback from local consultation;

d Demonstrate how the quality of the development will be secured when it is built; and

e Are inclusive and incorporate sustainable design and construction principles.

Character of development

B Development proposals should relate positively to their locality, having regard to:

a Building heights;

b Form, scale & massing prevailing around the site;

c Urban grain, and the framework of routes and spaces connecting locally and more widely;

d Maintaining a sense of enclosure and, where appropriate, following existing building lines;

e Rhythm of any neighbouring or local regular plot and building widths;

f Active, lively frontages to the public realm; and

g Distinctive local architectural styles, detailing and materials.

Landscaping

C Development proposals shall demonstrate how the landscaping and planting are integrated into

the development as a whole. The Council will expect development proposals to respond to:

a Landform;

b Levels, slopes and the fall of the ground;

c Trees on and close to the site;

d Landscaped boundary and treatments; and

e Any other significant biodiversity (including prioritising native over invasive species) on or close to the site.

Privacy and amenity

D Development proposals must ensure a high standard of privacy and amenity for the development’s users and neighbours. The Council will support proposals that:

a Provide appropriate sunlight, daylight and open aspects (including private amenity space where required) to all parts of the development and adjacent buildings and land;

b Provide an appropriate amount of privacy to their residents and neighbouring properties to avoid overlooking and loss of privacy detrimental to the amenity of neighbouring residents and the residents of the development; and

c Address issues of vibration, noise, fumes, odour, light pollution and microclimatic conditions likely to arise from the use and activities of the development.

Policy DM9: Management of the Historic Environment

Haringey’s Heritage Assets

A Development that conserves and enhances the significance of a heritage asset and its setting will be supported.

B Proposals affecting a designated or nondesignated heritage asset and its setting will be assessed against the significance of the asset and its setting, and the impact of the proposals on that significance. Applicants are required to submit with their planning application a statement describing the significance of the heritage asset(s) concerned, including any contribution made by its setting, along with an assessment and justification of the impact of the new development on the asset and its setting.

C When considering the impact of proposals on the historic environment, the Council will have regard to:

a The priority given to sustaining and enhancing the significance of a heritage asset and its setting;

b Character appraisals and management plans or other guidance, where they are available;

c The preservation or reinstatement of original or historic form, fabric, function or character of the asset and its setting;

d The relationship with adjoining and neighbouring uses, particularly where these are heritage assets of significance in their own right;

e The desirability of securing a viable use for a heritage asset consistent with its conservation;

f An understanding of and respect for significance of heritage assets as parts of measures to mitigate and adapt to climate change; and

g The contribution that the sensitive utilisation of heritage assets can make to sustainable regeneration.

Conservation Areas

D Subject to (A-C) above the Council will give consideration to, and support where appropriate, proposals for the sensitive redevelopment of sites and buildings where these detract from the character and appearance of a Conservation Area and its setting, provided that they are compatible with and/or complement the special characteristics and significance of the area.

E Proposals for alterations and extensions to existing buildings in Conservation Areas should complement the architectural style, scale, proportions, materials and details of the host building and should not appear overbearing or intrusive.

Listed and Locally Listed Buildings

F In addition to (A-C) above, the Council will seek opportunities to secure the future of listed buildings particularly those on the ‘Heritage at Risk’ register, provided they:

a Do not lead to substantial harm or total loss of their significance;

b Retain and repair existing features and fabric, or, if missing, replace them in a sympathetic manner;

c Do not harm the structural integrity or stability of the building or that of adjoining buildings or structures; and

d Extensions are restricted to less significant parts of the building, relate sensitively to the original building and do not adversely affect the internal or external appearance or character of the listed building, curtilage or its setting.

G Subject to (A-C) above, the Council will seek to protect the local distinctiveness of the Borough by sustaining and enhancing the significance of locally listed buildings.

Policy DM21: Sustainable Design, Layout and Construction

A All new development, including building and landscape works, will be expected to consider and implement sustainable design, layout and construction techniques. Proposals should:

a Apply the energy hierarchy to minimise energy use in order to meet, and if possible exceed, minimum carbon dioxide reduction requirements;

b Apply the cooling hierarchy to reduce the potential for overheating and limit reliance on mechanical air conditioning systems;

c Maximise opportunities to enhance biodiversity on-site, including through appropriate landscaping, Sustainable Drainage Systems, living roofs and green walls

d Wherever possible, use building materials with high environmental performance ratings;

e Seek opportunities for locally sourced labour.

B The Council will support appropriate measures to sustainably retrofit existing homes and nonresidential buildings.

C Proposals that fail to demonstrate adequate consideration for sustainable design, layout and construction techniques will be resisted.

D Consideration will be given to the use of carbon offset payments, to be secured by planning obligations, where it can be demonstrated that proposals are unable to meet carbon dioxide emission reduction targets on-site.

Enhancing biodiversity

4.36 Urban greening can make an important contribution not only to biodiversity and amenity but also to climate change adaptation. Living roofs (green and brown roofs) and green walls offer many environmental benefits such as improving the thermal performance of buildings, reducing on-site energy demands and limiting the ‘urban heat island’ effect. They also contribute to sustainable drainage by absorbing rainfall, reducing run-off and improving water quality.

4.37 The Council will strongly encourage the incorporation of urban greening measures where vertical surfaces face public spaces, particularly to enhance the visual appearance of buildings and improve public amenity. However, it is recognised that living roofs and walls may not be appropriate in certain settings, such as Conservation Areas, and the policy will be applied subject to individual site circumstances. Applicants are encouraged to refer the GRO Green Roof Code (2014) which is accepted good practice guidance.

Managing and Reducing Flood Risk

1. The Council will ensure that all proposals for new development avoid and reduce the risk of flooding to future occupants and do not increase the risk of flooding.
2. All proposals for new development within Flood Zone 2 and 3a will be required to provide sufficient evidence for the Council to assess whether the requirements of the Sequential Test and Exception Test, where required, have been satisfied. Proposals must be informed by a site specific Flood Risk Assessment (FRA) taking account of all potential sources of flooding and should:

a Demonstrate the application of a sequential approach for the development of individual sites to ensure that the most vulnerable land uses are located in areas of the site that are at lowest risk of flooding;

b Preserve overland flood and flow routes and ensure there is no net loss of flood storage. Adequate flood storage and compensation should be provided on site, or if this is not possible, provided off site where circumstances allow;

c Where appropriate, set out the mitigation measures that will be incorporated on site to manage residual flood risk including:

i Finished floor levels set no lower than 300mm above the 1 in 100 chance in any given year, including an allowance for climate change, flood level; and

ii Ensure safe access and egress for future users of the development or an appropriate emergency evacuation plan.

d Contribute to naturalising watercourses where opportunities arise.

C All proposals for new development will be required to:

a Manage and reduce surface water run-off; and

b Manage water and waste water discharges.

D With the exception of water compatible uses and essential infrastructure, development in areas designated in Haringey’s Strategic Flood Risk Assessment as being within Flood Zone 3b will not be permitted.

Policy DM25: Sustainable Drainage Systems

A All proposals for new development must seek to manage surface water as close to its source as possible in line with the London Plan drainage hierarchy.

B The Council will require Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) to be sensitively incorporated into new development by way of site layout and design, having regard to the following requirements:

a All major development proposals will be required to reduce surface water flows to a greenfield run-off rate for a 1 in 100 year critical storm event;

b All minor development proposals should aim to achieve a greenfield run-off rate and, at a minimum, achieve a 50 per cent reduction on existing site run-off rates;

c All other development should seek to achieve a greenfield run-off rate and include at least one ‘at source’ SuDS measure resulting in a net improvement in water quantity or quality discharging to a sewer; and

d For all development where a greenfield runoff rate cannot be achieved justification must be provided to demonstrate that the run-off rate has been reduced as much as possible.

C Where Sustainable Drainage Systems are implemented they will be expected to:

a Meet the requirements set out in the Council’s relevant local standards and guidance, or national standards where agreed;

b Incorporate measures identified in the Surface Water Management Plan;

c Be designed to maximise biodiversity and local amenity benefits, and where appropriate, ensure that SuDS techniques provide for clean and safe water at the surface;

d Improve water quality; and

e Function effectively over the lifespan of the development.

D Where SuDS cannot be implemented due to site constraints (such as land contamination or space limitations) robust justification must be provided along with proposed alternative sustainable approaches to surface water management.

Visit our Portfolio for a selection of case studies and our Home Design pages for guides on your home design requirements.

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