Accessible platform lift at 39 Brompton Square, London SW3

The building and its history

The site is a Grade II listed townhouse in the Brompton Conservation Area, with historic features, later alterations and earlier approved works.

“/LB/26/01617:2 3.1 39 Brompton Square is a Grade II listed building, located on the north-east side of the wider listed square and within the Brompton Conservation Area. It is part of a wider listed terrace comprising nos. 37 to 53 Brompton Square (National Heritage List Entry number 1080724). The houses were constructed between 1824 and 1839 and listed on 15 April 1969.”

“3.5Architectural special interest and significance arises from the townhouse’s composition both singularly and with and as part of the wider terraced group, for its internal features and character, plan-form, circulation via largely original staircase, historic fabric and surviving decorative details. There are several elements of modern decoration, including wooden panelling in the ground floor front room which is not original to the building.”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended refusal because the works would harm the building’s plan, circulation and character, while heritage and other public benefits would not outweigh that harm.

“LB/26/01617 Agenda Item: S060 Address:39 Brompton Square, LONDON, SW3 2AF Proposal: Provision of a lift shaft with associated internal alterations to improve accessibility for the occupiers specific disability needs.”

“Heritage and other public benefits fail to outweigh this harm. As such, the proposals are contrary to Policies CD3 and CD5 of the Local Plan 2024. 2.Reason for committee consideration · Cllr Idris has requested that the case is called-in to the Planning Applications Committee. 3.The site and its surroundings…”

Officer report

Access and heritage impacts

The access need was established, but officers considered the proposed adjustments unreasonable because less harmful adaptations had not been sufficiently demonstrated.

“/LB/26/01617:5 consideration of physical access for disabled people and the making of appropriate adjustments. 6.10Historic England’s guidance note ‘Easy Access to Historic Buildings’ discusses how reasonable adjustments might be made to allow improved building access in line with the Equality Act.”

“Information has also been provided on the current multi-generational, multi-occupancy of the building. 6.12Notwithstanding the details provided in the application, the submitted information fails to sufficiently demonstrate that the existing house could not be more minimally adapted. For example, adaptations to the less sensitive and significant parts of the building, i.e.”

Officer report

Who spoke

An architect and a heritage consultant addressed the Committee in support of the application.

The committee vote

The Committee unanimously rejected the officer recommendation to refuse listed building consent.

“Resolved unanimously: to not adopt the Officer’s recommendation to refuse listed building consent for the following reason:”

“By virtue of the alterations to plan-form, circulation and changes to the character of the main original body of the building across four floors including to principal rooms, the proposal causes harm to heritage significance and fails to preserve the special architectural and historic interest of the listed building. Heritage and other public benefits fail to outweigh this harm. As such, the proposals are contrary to Policies CD3 and CD5 of the Local Plan 2024.”

Minutes

The decision

The Committee unanimously approved listed building consent, proposed by Councillor Dodd-Noble and seconded by Councillor Goldfinger.

“Resolved unanimously as proposed by Cllr Dodd-Noble and seconded by Cllr Goldfinger: to approve listed building consent, subject to the following Conditions:”

Minutes

Conditions of approval

The approval required a three-year time limit, compliance with approved drawings, detailed materials and safeguards for the building’s historic fabric.

“(a) Details of new chimneypieces, fireplaces, hearths and grates shown to scale in plan (1:10) and elevation (1:10) on the chimneybreast along with details of proposed materials and finishes. New chimney pieces shall be appropriate in architectural design, materials and size for the status of the room and the period of the house; (b) Drawn details (1:10 elevation, 1:5 section) of the fanlight over the ground floor entrance, along with details of materials and sample of the…”

“Retention of fabric All existing fabric including existing wall and ceiling plasterwork shall be retained, unless notated otherwise on the drawings approved under this consent. Reason - In order to safeguard the special architectural or historic interest and heritage significance of the building and comply with policy CD3 and CD5 of the Local Plan 2024.”

Minutes