Kingsland CAAC April 2016

Planning Applications for Kingsland CAAC Monday 4 April 2016

2016/0111 at 139 Culford Road N1 4HX.  Planning Officer Raymond Okot.

Replacement of half glazed half slate pitched roof on single storey ground floor rear elevation with slate roof reinstated to full length of the roof, installation of three velux windows on the roof of the single storey ground floor rear addition, and replacement of rear ground floor doors and windows.

Quite a poor application in that plans are minimal and there are no photos (surprising that the Planning Department would accept this?), but from what we can see there is no objection.

2016/0882 at 54C Downham Road N1 5AS.  Planning Officer Evie Learman.

Demolition of existing building (bookmakers – use class sui generis) and erection of single storey plus basement dwelling house (class C3) with terrace areas to front at ground floor level.

 We object to the proposed design of the front façade, which is mediocre. We also feel that its asymmetry is jarring, particularly next to a prominent double-fronted house. The windows on the proposed side elevation are small and mean. We strongly object to the proposed use of grey UPVC windows. We feel that this is a wasted opportunity to design something better.

2016/0859 at 2 Kingsland Road E2 8DA.  Planning Officer Ronan O’Connor.

Three storey extension to accommodate C1 Hotel use (3 room hotel) at first, second and third floor level.  New entrance at ground floor level. 

No objection.

We feel that the proposed façade would be an interesting addition to the conservation area.

We note that the drawing of the proposed elevation shows a traditional brick bonding, whereas the “proposed” photo shows a stacked brick bond: we trust that the traditional style will be used.

We hope that the Conservation Officer will ensure both this, and the use of London stock, and not a darker brown brick as shown in the “proposed” photo. 

2016/0730 at 258 Kingsland Road E8 4DG.  Planning Officer Toyin Omodara.

Demolition of existing building and erection of 7 storey plus basement building to provide 9 residential units (2x1 bed, 3x2 bed, 4x3 bed) and 552.5sqm of commercial (Use Class B1) floorspace.

The committee was divided in its opinion about the demolition of the Soda Studio building, which some felt had welcome architectural individuality in an increasingly bland and modern area, and allows light from the south to the apartment building behind. The majority felt that the proposed building had, in comparison to other recent buildings along the Kingsland Road, considerable merit in terms of design.

2016/0113 at 502 Kingsland Road E8 4AE.  Planning Officer Micheal Garvey.

Change of use of part ground floor from B1 office to A1 retail and Studio flat; erection of part one and part two storey roof extension; and conversion of upper floors 2x1 bed flats and 1x2 bed flats; installation of new shopfront, new entrance door.  

We object to the proposed single very large window on the rear elevation of the top floor, which is completely out of keeping with the building. The massing of this proposed mezzanine is excessive, and we would prefer to see the third floor as already approved, with a conventional mansard roof with dormer windows to this rear elevation.

We feel that the window and the skylight will provide insufficient light to the studio on the ground floor.

On the “Proposed Contextual Appearance” of the front façade, the bottom of the sills of the windows at second floor do not align with the windows of the property to the north, and all of the proposed new windows are slightly too small. With only slight alteration the front façade  would look neater.

2016/0835 and 2016/0839 at 568 Kingsland Road E8 4AH.  Planning Officer Louise Smith.

Replacement shopfront, internal alterations at ground floor level and the installation of an internally illuminated (letters only) fascia sign.

We have no objection to the application, but feel that it is a pity that the opportunity is not being taken to harmonise the whole shopfront.

2016/0784 at 81 Mortimer Road N1 5AR. Planning Officer Raymond Okot.

Demolition and replacement of the existing single storey lower ground floor rear conservatory with a single storey lower ground floor full width rear extension; erection of a single storey half width upper ground floor rear extension; erection of a single storey out building in the rear garden; removal and replacement of the existing lower ground floor window with a door.

We object to this application on the following grounds:

-       The proposed first floor glass extension at the rear is both wider and taller than the current side extension, and is unattractive and out of keeping with the upper part of the rear elevation.

-       The south glass wall in the proposed first floor extension is too close to the existing first floor rear window of the house.

-       The very large area of glass in the proposed new elevation at ground floor, almost unrelieved by any structural piers, plus the two walls of glass at first floor, will produce a great deal of light for neighbours.

-       The room being built in the garden is being built for habitation, complete with bathroom.

-       The garden of this house is relatively short by De Beauvoir standards, and the proposed increase in size of the rear extension plus garden room will mean that the remaining outside space will be very limited.

-       The additional paving will further decrease water run-off

We feel that this is a case of overdevelopment of an already well extended house.