A typical brief
The owners of a Victorian terrace in Highbury, Islington, want to replace a narrow kitchen and a lean-to with one open kitchen and dining room opening onto the garden. They want as much depth as the planning context allows and a bright interior without side windows.
Constraints and planning context
The house lies in a conservation area. That does not remove permitted development for a rear extension, but it caps the PD depth at 3 m for a terrace and rules out the larger home extension prior approval route. A 3.5 m extension therefore needs a full householder planning application. Islington expects rear extensions to be subordinate, to pass the 45-degree daylight test from neighbouring windows, and to use materials that respect the terrace.
How we would design it
We would propose a full-width extension 3.5 m deep with a flat roof at 3 m, matching London stock brick on the flank walls, a fully glazed rear elevation and three rooflights to light the kitchen at the darker end of the plan. We plot the 45-degree line from the nearest habitable room windows on both sides and set the roof height so the line clears the new parapet.
Likely planning route
A householder planning application decided within the statutory 8 weeks. Neighbour objections on daylight and overlooking are common for a 3.5 m extension; we answer them with a short daylight note showing the 45-degree diagrams and confirming there are no side windows, which case officers can rely on. The application fee is £528 (verify before applying).
Documentation we would prepare
- Measured survey and existing drawings
- Proposed plans, elevations and sections
- Design and access statement with heritage paragraph
- Daylight and sunlight note with 45-degree diagrams
- Submission and case officer liaison through to decision
Read more about our house extensions, householder planning applications and planning documentation, see how we work in Islington, or get an instant estimate.
