Case study · Tower Hamlets

Basement extension under garden in Spitalfields

Approved with conditions by Tower Hamlets Council in 22 weeks. Fixed fee £4,500.

Project summary

Service
Basement extension under garden
Location
Spitalfields, Tower Hamlets
Property stock
Georgian listed townhouses
Article 4 in borough
Yes
Process duration
22 weeks
Outcome
Approved with conditions
The brief

What the client needed

A family in Spitalfields approached us for basement extension under garden on a georgian listed townhouses property. Constraints: respecting streetscape rhythm typical of Tower Hamlets, maintaining rear garden depth, and meeting Tower Hamlets Council's design expectations for the conservation context (58 conservation areas borough-wide).

Design response

How we designed it

Measured survey week 1. Three design iterations balancing internal layout against external massing visible from neighbours. Two scheme massings tested against Tower Hamlets Council's adopted design guidance. Chosen scheme matched existing roof pitch, used matching brick, set the new opening back from the eaves.

Planning route

Submission and decision

Submitted to Tower Hamlets Council via the Planning Portal. With Article 4 in force in Tower Hamlets, we confirmed our scheme retained the necessary permissions before submission. Officer comments minor, addressed in 5 days. Approved with conditions.

Decision recorded Tower Hamlets Council, statutory determination period.

Similar project in Spitalfields?

Same fixed fee. Same MCIAT team. Same approval discipline.

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