Luxury mega basements 'to be banned in Kensington and Chelsea'

 
Mega basement ban: Kensington and Chelsea could block the developments

Mega basements look certain to be banned in Kensington & Chelsea in the new year after developers lost a key battle with councillors over the excavations.

In landmark decision the Government’s Planning Inspector today upheld the local authority’s proposed tough new restrictions on the size of basements,

The number of planning applications for them in the borough has soared in recent years from 46 in 2001 to 450 last year as wealthy owners have sought to create more living space, including swimming pools, spas, cinema rooms and even a bowling alley.

Councillors wanted to limit basements to a single floor and to extend to no more than 50 per cent of the space occupied by the garden after being deluged by complaints from residents angered by the disruption, noise and dust from dig sites,

The new guideline had been challenged by specialist basement construction firms, which claimed the council had not made its case based on firm evidence.

But following today’s report from the Planning Inspector Cllr Tim Coleridge, said: “Basements have been the single greatest planning concern our residents have expressed to us in living memory. Many have experienced years of misery from noise, vibration, dust and construction traffic.

“Two years ago we started drafting a policy to try and strike the right balance between addressing our residents’ concerns and the genuine need for people to expand their homes.

“It hasn’t been easy and basement developers have aggressively opposed us every step of the way. We are delighted that the Inspector agrees that we have got it right while at the same time praising us for our extensive public consultation.

“This ruling is a victory not only for the Council but also our residents who have been overwhelmingly supportive of what we have been trying to do.”

The new guidelines will formally be adopted on 21 January at the next full council meeting.

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