Whilst the headline is that people considering basement
conversions in London are now finding it harder to get their plans
approved, the reality is that with the guidance of specialists such as
OLBC we can help ensure that plans are sensitive to the local
requirements and so are usually unopposed. Indeed OLBC has a 100%
success rate for basement planning applications. This all started as a
result of insensitive approaches, by some, to basement design and
planning that created considerable opposition to basement developments.
OLBC believe that by using sensitive designs couple with sensitive
working methods and construction methodology based around all electric
plant and machinery this opposition can be successfully mitigated in the
majority of cases. Communities minister Baroness Williams of Trafford
said the government is aware of the problems that construction work can
cause, the Daily
Telegraph reports. In response to former Labour minister Lord
Dubs’ comments on the matter, she said: “We will commit to carrying
out a review of the planning law and the regulations which relate to
basement developments. We will publish a call for evidence for the
review by summer of this year and we hope we will receive responses from
a range of authorities and stakeholders.� Basement conversions in
London are becoming evermore popular, whilst planning laws are becoming
ever more restrictive. In the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea,
homeowners can only apply for a basement conversion of up to 50% of
their garden, and only one additional basement floor will be
permitted.
