Roof terrace and French doors at Flat First Floor, 34 Standen Road, London SW18

What was proposed

The application proposed French doors with safety railings and a second-floor roof terrace with a 1.7-metre screen.

“The application is a ‘renewal’ of the 2021 planning permission, which expired in 2024. The proposal is for alterations to the rear first floor to change a window to French doors with safety railings and alterations to the second floor to create a roof terrace amenity area.”

Officer report

The site

The property is a two-storey mid-terrace building divided into two homes, and the first-floor flat has no outdoor amenity space.

“The subject property is located on the north side of Standen Road and it is a 2-storey mid- terrace property converted into two self-contained residential units. The property in question is a first floor flat with accommodation at first floor level and roof level. There are existing roof mansards to the main rear roof and over 2-storey rear outrigger. The existing single storey rear extension belongs to a ground floor flat.”

“The site is located in a predominantly residential area consisting of rows of 2-storey terraces and the site backs a terrace of 2-storey cottages at Longfield Street. The existing building is not listed, neither is located within any Conservation Area. The site is located in close proximity to Coronation Gardens and King George’s Park.”

Officer report

Officers’ recommendation

Officers recommended approval because the proposal was considered sympathetic, policy-compliant and acceptable for neighbouring living conditions.

“The proposal, by reason of location, design, scale, siting and materials, is considered to be a sympathetic form of development which would not harm the appearance of the host property and surrounding area and would have no adverse impact on the amenities of neighbouring occupiers in terms of loss of daylight/sunlight, loss of privacy, overbearing, sense of enclosure, visual intrusion and noise/disturbance.”

“For the reasons set out above, this application falls to be determined in accordance with the test under section 38(6) of the 2004 Act, the proposal is in general conformity with the Development Plan overall and there are no material considerations of sufficient weight to justify refusal.”

Officer report

Why officers supported it

Officers considered the terrace modest, screened and better placed at second-floor roof level, with no unacceptable impact on privacy, light, bulk or noise.

“Previously, a roof terrace proposed at rear first floor level was rejected by the Council and the Planning Inspectorate (application ref. no. 2014/1396 was dismissed on appeal and application ref. no. 2020/4357 was withdrawn by the applicant). This was due to the location of the terrace on top of an existing single storey rear extension, with considerable footprint and being directly adjacent to the habitable room window of the adjoining house at no. Standen Road.”

“In 2021 a terrace was approved by the Planning Applications Committee, sitting at roof level of the main building and away from rear/flank elevation windows of the adjacent properties at no. 32 and no. Standen Road. The proposed roof terrace was to sit at second floor level rather than first floor level, further away from the rear gardens and main habitable areas of the adjacent/surrounding properties.”

Officer report

What the speaker said

The Opposition Speaker asked whether the works were retrospective and noted that the second-floor location reduced impact and enforcement remained available.

The committee’s decision

The committee unanimously granted planning permission as set out in the report.

“RESOLVED - (unanimous) that planning permission be granted as set out in the report.”

Minutes