Jump to content

Recommended Posts

We were told no for a roof terrace with our loft conversion as it would have been visible from the road. No ifs and no buts it just wasn?t acceptable even with screening etc. I think if we?d been further down the terrace and not visible from a public highway we might have been ok.


Other than that the planners were very reasonable and gave clear advice about what would and wouldn?t be ok in terms of height of boundary walls for our extension and for raising our ridge line.


We?re a freehold house rather than a leasehold flat so your mileage might vary.

We don't have any experience of purchasing loft space from Southwark Council, but we were granted permission for a roof terrace as part of a loft conversion. We are mid-terrace and the roof terrace was only permitted on the basis that it is 2mx2m and doesn't take up much of the roof area. The pre-application process was definitely worth it and made the formal process run a lot smoother.
My experience is that Southwark are inconsistent with rules associated with roof terraces in general. I've been advised by an architect it is not permissible, evidencing one on the corner of Heber and Cyrena was told by Southwark Planning that this had been granted permission because it had been there for a sufficient time without permission (12 years?) but one has just been newly constructed on the opposite corner of Heber and Cyrena, both are visible from the road as they are on a corner. Maybe there is now a precedent. Check with Planning, send photos of existing constructions. Good luck.

Hi Napoletano,

Two issues I believe from your post.

1st - obtaining agreement from Southwark to use the loft for a loft extension has proven hard work for many to obtain.

2nd - obtaining planning permission for a balcony historically has been near impossible IF you could in any way overlook anybody - it also makes it harder for the council to agree to sell the loft space as you would be incorporating a flat terrace with extra risk of water leakage.


Talk to Southwark first about the loft space. If/when you make progress then talk about the detailed design and what they as a freeholder would find acceptable. Then you're into planning permissions for balcony - possibly permitted development if you don't.

alice Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> does that mean I don't need permission for a

> balcony at the back of my house.


I don't have any recent experience but our house was built in the early 2000s with a back balcony overlooking a couple of our neighbours gardens. It's part of the design to allow access to the roof, but there's a planning condition on it that it can't be used as a balcony, due to the invasion of privacy for neighbours. I know the neighbours objected at the time, so that may be why the condition was added. We get on well with our current neighbours so it's never been an issue but I suspect if one of them complained it would lead to some pretty active enforcement.

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Latest Discussions

    • Dulwich Society says: "In the 1980s Southwark Council incurred further considerable expenditure on 'Belair', particularly in repainting the exterior. Unfortunately, in the 1990s Southwark Council closed up the building, pleading lack of funds, and in its boarded-up and vandalised state it became an eyesore. Happily, in 1997 the Council leased out the building and after impressive and extensive restoration by the new owner, Gary Cady, it opened as a restaurant, with the second floor converted into a private flat." And yet the Hot N Juicy seafood place across the South Circular is busy all the time, in the same location where the sad Indian restaurant that used to be there faltered. Not sure if "passing trade" is that important to specialty restaurants.
    • Well, well, well! Pretty disappointing and tacky. I have some sympathy for Tesla owners but although he has shown his colours now, Elon was always a tosser.  I have always been sad and frustrated by Belair House, and I wish someone could get a grip and market it successfully as a good redto and bar. As the earlier comment said it is a beautiful building in a great location, albeit a bit shabby here and there. Over the years we have eaten and had drinks there but the last time was about 5 years ago and we haven't been back since after a cockroach crawled up my arm as I waited at the bar for my pint...
    • If anyone has a spare ticket for tomorrow's gig please ler me know! Please text me on 07719804123. Thank you! 😊 
Home
Events
Sign In

Sign In



Or sign in with one of these services

Search
×
    Search In
×
×
  • Create New...