Issue - meetings

Demolition of existing property and erection of new three storey dwelling with rooms at basement level.

RECOMMENDATION: grant permission subject to conditions.

The Committee considered a report, previously circulated, on the application to grant planning permission for 19 Lansdowne Road N10 2AX, centred on the demolition of the existing property and erection of a new three storey dwelling with rooms at basement level. The report set out details of the proposal, the site and surroundings, planning history, relevant planning policy, consultation and responses, analysis, equalities and human rights implications and recommended to grant permission subject to conditions. Vincent Maher, the Council’s Head of Development Management, gave a short presentation highlighting the key aspects of the report.

Three local residents, Ms Rossiter, Mr Hutchinson and Mr Ashley-Norman addressed the Committee in objection to the application and made the following comments:

·        The scale and size of the new house was inappropriate and out of character with the rest of the road, leading to concerns there would be an impact on neighbouring houses, particularly in consideration that the proposed footprint of the house at first floor level would extend 1m beyond the rear line of the existing Edwardian terrace.

·        The potential risk was raised of the development exacerbating existing drainage problems in the area, with a number of neighbouring houses having had to undergo significant remedial work as a consequence of poor drainage in the locality. It was considered that the applicant had not provided sufficient documentation within the application regarding mitigation of this risk.

·        The scale of the building work required to excavate the large basement was of concern, with the associated potential for disturbance and disruption to neighbouring properties.

·        The sustainability of the development, particularly in relation to the large carbon footprint from the demolition of the existing house and rebuilding on a large concrete base, was questioned. It was considered that the more sustainable option would have been retrofitting of the existing house.

Two of the applicant’s representatives, Mr Bee and Mr Blunt, addressed the Committee regarding the application and raised the following points:

·        It was considered that the existing house did not positively contribute to the character of the Conservation Area or reflect neighbouring houses and that the new house would better reflect local character and design including a more symmetrical form and concordant roof line. 

·        Although it was recognised that the new house was a larger scale to the existing, this would not have a significant impact to the front elevation. In addition, several of the houses in the area had extensions so the scale was not out of line.

·        A soil survey and engineering survey had been undertaken which had not identified any issues with the construction works.

The Committee expressed concern regarding the issues raised by the objectors of drainage problems in the area and the potential for the new house to exacerbate these. In light of this, it was advised that, should the application be approved, an additional condition could be added requiring further investigation of rain and surface water drainage onsite and for any subsequent mitigation works to be approved by the Council prior to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 271