Design considerations and Lambeth planning assessment matters

The site contains a two storey semi-detached property on the western side of Blairderry Road. The properties along this side of the road have attached garages to the rear with a shared access route. The site is not within a conservation area and it does not contain a listed building.

Proposed Development

The application is for the conversion of the rear garage into a garden room to be linked to the property and replacement of the rear extension with full glazed sliding doors.

The proposed extension will be within the shared access route with No.50 Blairderry Road. The proposed extension to the main dwelling will be full width of the dwelling and project 3.5m and measures 2.7m to the eaves along the shared boundary of No.54 and 3.1m to the eaves along the shared access area of No.50. The extension would have a sloping roof with a maximum height of 3.9m.

The rear extension would be connected to the garage by an infill extension which measures 0.7m in depth.

The proposal includes alterations to the garage roof and will increase part of the roof and measures 2.3m to the eaves with no change to the maximum ridge height.

Streatham Lambeth SW2 House extension garage conversion – Design matters

Local Plan Policy Q5 states that development should respond to positive aspects of the local context and historic character including issues such as roofscapes, materials, and architectural detailing.

Local Plan Policy Q11 states the design of the extension should positively respond to the original architecture, roof form, detailing, fenestration and materials. Subordination is a key consideration and development which unacceptably dominates or overwhelms the host building will not be supported.

The massing of the proposed rear extension in relation to the host property would appear subordinate and similar existing structures can be seen within the streetscene. The detailing of the extension would be sufficiently a positive reflection of the architecture of the host property. Therefore, the proposed rear extension is acceptable in design terms.

The proposed alterations to the garage including the change to the roof design are considered to be acceptable and from the streetscene it would only be partially visible due to the set back and that the roof pitch change is only on part of the roof. The design is considered to be acceptable.

Further, sufficient garden space would be retained and the proposed materials are considered acceptable.

The proposal would therefore not harm the character and appearance of the host building or the surrounding area and complies with policy Q5 and Q11 of the Lambeth Local Plan (2015).

Amenity

Local Plan (2015) policy Q2 seeks to ensure that development preserves the visual amenity of adjoining sites. It does not compromise the standards of privacy; provides adequate outlooks; does not result in undue sense of enclosure; does not have unacceptable impact on levels of daylight and sunlight.

The adverse impact of noise is reduced to an acceptable level; adequate outdoor amenity space is provided free from excessive noise or disturbance. Given the north-west orientation of the rear of the application site and adjacent properties, the proposed extension would not have an unacceptable impact on the receipt of sunlight.

It is considered that the modest height and depth of the proposed extension would mitigate the impacts of the potential loss of outlook, and is not expected to have an unduly adverse impact with respect to overshadowing or loss of daylight and sunlight.

No.54 has an existing extension, the proposal would project 0.6m past the rear extension of No.54 and the proposal will measures 2.7m to the eaves. Given this, the proposed extension is not considered to have a significant impact on neighbouring amenity.

The proposed extension will be set 1.3m from the shared boundary and 2.3m to the side wall of No.50 and the proposal would have an eaves height of 3.1m. Given the separation distance and eaves height along the shared boundary, the proposal is not considered to have a significant impact on neighbouring amenity.

The proposed windows and door on the rear extension are not creating any new views or overlooking from the present situation. The proposed new windows and door on the garage will be positioned 4.8m from the boundary with No.54 and would not result in overlooking. Overall, there would be no issues with overlooking or impacts on privacy.

Therefore, there are no privacy, noise, overlooking or daylight sunlight concerns. As such, the scheme is considered to comply with Policy Q2 of the Local Plan (2015) in this respect.

Conclusion

Upon full assessment of the submitted material supporting the application, taking into account all material considerations, it is considered the objectives of the development plan have been met.

This project is also included on our Lambeth residential architects page as an example of a rear extension, infill connection and garage conversion to a Lambeth home.

For inspiration and ideas see below some of our other residential projects in Lambeth.

BOROUGH SPECIFIC ARCHITECT AND PLANNING GUIDES FOR YOUR HOME PROJECT

Your local Council will have in place design and planning requirements for your home project and you will need to obtain planning approval for a wide range of extensions and alterations to your property.

When you get in touch we will offer you detailed advice about what is likely that your Council will approve and in the meantime we have prepared the following architectural and planning guides that include extracts of the relevant planning policy and examples of our projects in our Borough.

Barnet architects | Planning and design homeowner guide, Camden residential architect and planning guide, Enfield residential architect and planning guide, Hackney residential architect and planning guide, Hammersmith Fulham residential architect and planning guide, Haringey architects | Planning and design homeowner guide and planning guide, Islington residential architect and planning guide, Kensington and Chelsea Conservation architects, residential and planning guide,  Lambeth residential architect and planning guide, Lewisham residential architect and planning guide, Newham residential architect and planning guide, Tower Hamlets residential architect and planning guide, Waltham Forest residential architect and planning guide, Wandsworth residential architect and planning guide, Westminster residential architect and planning guide