No. 10-11 Dacre Street is an unlisted building of merit situated within a conservation area. Firstplan secured planning consent for change of use from B1 (office) to C3 (residential) at first and second floors, together with partial demolition behind the retained façade, significant roof and rear extensions and associated external alterations. Firstplan overcame a number of policy objections regarding roof level additions and parking. The instruction included the preparation of a planning and heritage impact statement and the submission of an application to discharge the planning conditions.
The grant of consent allows the client to modernise and enlarge the property to create high quality and desirable residential accommodation in the heart of Westminster.
Firstplan work with Visu Verum to achieve planning permission for substantial individual houses, including: new builds, basements and rear extensions.
Specialising in Wimbledon, Coombe, Cobham and Central London, the houses are bespoke designs and provide high quality elegant family homes which make the most of their plots.
The projects generally include a large uplift in floorspace and must be justified in terms of their impact on the character of the area and the amenity of neighbouring residents.
This scheme involved the demolition of a retail storage building to allow the erection of a two storey residential building to create four flats at the rear of No. 436-438 Streatham High Road.
The proposal had a number of planning issues which needed to be overcome, including its constrained backland location, the impact on residential amenity and its conservation area designation. Firstplan successfully addressed these issues and is currently negotiating the terms of the Section 106.
Firstplan obtained consent at appeal for a mixed-use building providing new commercial floorspace, with residential units above. Discussions with the local planning authority followed, concerning the height of the building and the provision of a penthouse flat.
Firstplan successfully argued that the new floorspace and penthouse would not detract from the conservation area within which the site is located, and was appropriate in the wider context. It was argued that the new proposals would provide a superior building within its overall setting.
Firstplan obtained planning permission for the demolition of one house and the erection of two detached houses in Coombe. The planning issues included the scale and layout of the properties on the site and the impact on the residential amenity of the neighbouring house. The application was helped by positive pre-application discussions prior to submission. The approved houses will provide a high quality addition to the area.
Firstplan worked with award winning architects Stanton Williams to secure consent for a replacement dwelling in the Highgate Conservation Area, close to Hampstead Heath. The site was designated as a Private Open Space and therefore the openness of the site was a key consideration. Considerable additional floorspace was achieved by the provision of a lower ground floor which was set into the slope of the site. The house won the prestigious RIBA London Award 2015.
Firstplan worked with Intercon Homes to achieve planning permission for substantial individual houses. This replacement house at Copse Hill has a striking contemporary design and will provide a high quality elegant family home. The scheme includes a separate pool house, making the most of the plot.
The Benyon Estate own around 300 properties in De Beauvoir Town, London N1. As retained planning consultants, Firstplan have obtained numerous consents for projects which have sought to enhance the character and appearance of the estate and the conservation area and provide additional accommodation.
The range of work has included extensions to residential properties including listed buildings, additional flats through extensions and conversions of existing buildings, small scale B1 studios and residential development to the rear of existing properties, new B1/B8 units, and new retail development within the curtilage of a listed building.
Firstplan obtained planning permission for the change of use of a four storey building within the Bishopsgate Conservation Area from Class B1 (office) use to a mix of Class D1 (dental surgery) on ground and first floors and Class C3 (residential) use on the upper floors. Planning permission was also granted for associated changes to the shopfront.
Firstplan successfully argued that the loss of employment floorspace was appropriate in this instance and that the mix of uses proposed would enhance the vitality and viability of Artillery Lane, a key thoroughfare within the City Fringe.
Situated in the Hampstead Conservation Area, Firstplan secured planning permission for a contemporary replacement dwelling designed by award winning architects, Stanton Williams. The proposals included moving the building line forward to restore a historic relationship with the pavement, which proved to be contentious with local residents. However, a clear justification for the proposals and minor revisions to the design ensured that the desired footprint and resulting large uplift in floorspace was achieved.