Subterranean Development

The Ladbroke Association Survey of the Impact and Effects of Subterranean Developments in Kensington

The Association has for some time been very concerned about the impact of subterranean developments in the Borough as a result of the relatively large number of planning applications that have now been granted for constructing single or multi-level basements under existing house and gardens.

While the Council recognises the concern that is being expressed, it has to date felt that it does not have adequate powers under planning legislation to enable it to refuse most of the applications that it has had to consider. There have been a limited number of planning appeals that have been successful in overturning refusals by the Planning Committee on the basis that, since the developments are underground and therefore not seen externally, they have little or no effect on buildings in conservation areas.

Unless planning applications are proposed in areas which the Environment Agency has categorised as being susceptible to flooding, the Council has to date taken the view that any control of construction  should be under Building Control and not Planning legislation.

The Chairman has written to some 300 householders of buildings close to underground developments that have:
(1)  taken place within the last five years or
(2)  are currently underway or
(3)  are planned.

The accompanying questionnaire is designed to obtain views and facts about the impact of such developments on houses and people.

See the Letter from the Chairman, dated 19/02/2009, and also the Survey Questionnaire

You can download these documents and print them but please return the completed questionnaire by 31/03/2009 if you wish to help us by completing it; you can deliver your completed questionnaire to the address given in the letter.. If you have any queries on this you can contact the Chairman on either of the following E-mail addresses:
chairman@ladbrokeassociation.net   or   corsellis@btinternet.com