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.
