A typical brief
The owners of a Victorian terrace in Kentish Town, Camden, want to infill the side return and extend to the rear so the ground floor becomes one L-shaped kitchen and dining room. The site is awkward: a garden stepping down from the house, a neighbour’s extension already built on one side, and a shared drain running under the side return.
Constraints and planning context
The house sits in a conservation area, so the larger home extension route is unavailable and the wraparound needs full planning permission. Camden’s guidance asks rear extensions to stay subordinate, to respect the depth of adjoining extensions and to protect the pattern of gardens behind the terrace. Steel beams bear on both party walls and the new flank wall sits on the line of junction, engaging the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 on both sides. The drain needs a build-over agreement.
How we would design it
We would recommend a pre-application enquiry first. On a site like this the officer usually accepts the principle but flags the side-return depth where it projects beyond the neighbour’s extension. We would set the new rear wall to line through with next door, keep the rear element to 3 m, and use a pitched glazed roof over the side return to keep the party wall low. Brick to match the terrace, with a slim steel-framed glazed rear.
Likely planning route
Pre-application advice first, then a householder planning application decided within the statutory 8 weeks, with conditions on materials and glazing details the usual outcome once the depth matches next door. The application fee is £528 (verify before applying), in addition to Camden’s pre-application charge.
Documentation we would prepare
- Feasibility study and pre-application submission
- Measured survey, existing and proposed drawings
- Design and access statement with heritage statement
- Drainage strategy and build-over coordination
- Party wall notices for both adjoining owners
Read more about our house extensions, feasibility studies and pre-application advice and planning documentation, see how we work in Camden, or get an instant estimate.
