Building a Home Renovating Design Dilemma

Roof Terrace planning permission

HU-374665798

last year

last modified: last year

Any suggestion or advice greatly appreciated.

I own roof terrace 3.5 x 3.5 metres at the rear of a grade 2 listed building in SW7

it is on the 3rd floor of a 4 story building, I only own the terrace and no flat in the building.

The terrace has its own entrance via lift and stairs as any other flat in the building.

water and electricity connected and as it is at the rear of the building drainage pipes available.

I would be glad to have planning permission for just 1 room ,bedsit, no kitchen required only

microwave and airfryer and electric kettle, No parking required as underground,shops,cafe and

park within 1 min walk.

I have made a draft design, but will need frosted glass etc for privacy as neighbours flat close by.

Featured Answer

Frank

last year

From a purely commercial point of view, I'd try to shop it to any of the other leaseholders in the block. If they're not all bedsits, there's quite probably interest ...

I don't know how you got hold of a property of this kind. But it's a block of flats - and therefore, in all likelihood, leasehold. Which means planning permission alone doesn't buy you anything. You need freeholder approval as well, and that, given you're turning "airspace" into living space, affects the terms of your lease and is quite probably chargeable (the freeholder has to grant a new lease), not just solicitor costs but a downpayment to the freeholder (as a "new flat" is created). You're also likely ending up as (paying) contributor to the building's property management. Then, you need party wall consent; at the very least, the owner of the flat below, but possibly also others aside (because of, say, overshadowing and noise, or structural implications). It can be a maze to navigate this even for a "nornal" extension to a leasehold flat. Don't count on "knowing the other owners" either; it's fascinating to watch what "a little envy" can do.

So "commercial" advice, flog it to someone in the building - you'll save yourself so much hassle. "secondary commercial" advice, at least get _all_ the consent paperwork (neighbours, freeholder) in writing before you apply for planning. And "ternary" commercial advice, again before you file the planning application, speak to Kensington's planning advice service, https://www.rbkc.gov.uk/planning-and-building-control/planning-applications/planning-advice-service about the proposal. Given the value of "housing" of any kind in the borough, they may even be inclined, but if you surprise them with a "Daily Mail headline proposal", your idea will be seen a lot less favourable.

I suspect you'll have to put a lot of work in to "pull this off" (it is, as other's said, a "snowball in hell" type proposal). Good luck, you'll need it.

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Comments (7)

tamp75
last year
Surely you’d need a bathroom and running water to fill the kettle & wash whatever you’re using the microwave and air fryer for? Sorry, I can’t see it getting planning permission tbh, but I’m not an architect or planner so who knows? Good luck with it all.
HU-374665798
Original Author
last year
Water and electricity is connected and for wash room as the terrace is at the rear of the building drainage pipes are there serving for the rest of the flats in the building.
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Jonathan
last year
I think it’s unlikely you will get planning given it’s a listed building. But the local authority do have a service where you can informally discuss planning so take advantage of it.
HU-374665798
Original Author
last year
Thanks Frank for an honest and detailed advice, greatly appreciated. I purchased this terrrace from the auction about a year

ago. At that time it was an individual who was the freeholder, but since, the leaseholders have exercised their right and

purchased the freehold. so may be I have share of freehold, I am not sure. My share worth 30K where as their flats value

700K plus.

It looks like I will have to offer it to the other leaseholders in the building. I don't think they will offer more than 15K

You mentioned Daily Mail Headline proposal, Yes I was thinking along that line, it could generate lots of interest from young

budding entrepreneurs who wants to be the next Elon Musk or Richard Branson or Jeff Bezos.

Will be suitable for someone who wants to live under the stars in a very secluded place in central London.

just 20 min walk to Harrods, garden square accross the road. I don't think you need even planning permission to sleep under

the tent. which can be easily folded down in the morning. And with the climate change and warm weather and little rain and

cold, can easily live for 8 months of the year with no issues.

A prestige central London address for a writer, novelist, actor, creative soul in harmony with nature, living under the stars and

waking up with the birds in a secluded, calm, serene environment all in central London.

No need for a Car, Gas or even Electricity as few solar panels will provide enough energy for laptop, mobile phone helping the

environment, A true green living in central London.

As for nature's call a waste pipe is available and pubs and cafe all available less than a minute away.

2 min walk to 2 under ground stations and all shops and cafe 1 minute away.

Where in Prime central London location you can get a place for 40K
PRO
Property Developer Consultant in London
last year
You cannot use the roof terrace for anything but a roof terrace , if it even has that permittion . But selling it to all the lease holders , say 6 flats £5k each you maybe able to recoupe your £30k outlay and everyone in the building gets an outside area to sit out on .
toriastaples
last year
I fail to see how any structure could meet building regulations to provide a habital structure given size and location aside from the planning and legal problems already highlighted by others. Relying on climate change to render it acceptable seems like something of a fantastical reach— even London estate agents will find this a hard sell. This is a greenhouse not an apartment. Take the advice, save yourself time and a lot of money on a pipe dream and flog it.

Roof Terrace planning permission

Frank

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tamp75

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Roof Terrace planning permission

Frank

Comments (7)

tamp75

HU-374665798Original Author

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Jonathan

HU-374665798Original Author

Property Developer Consultant in London

toriastaples

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HU-374665798
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