A Heritage Statement led to a successful planning application on a residential scheme in south east London.
A new ground floor extension was proposed to the rear of a property located within the Brookmill Road Conservation Area, an area developed as a later part of Deptford New Town between the 1850s and 1870s. Its character is of a planned sequence of buildings running up one side of the road, as presented by a uniform skyline and a line of front railings.
The building’s late Victorian architecture and its significance to the overall character of the Conservation Area were carefully considered in the design of the extension. The existing rear lean-to compromised the more interesting roof pitch, brick and fenestration of the core. The objective was to create an extension that respected the heritage value of the building and related better to its proportions.
The heritage assessment and justification were crucial, considering the historical significance of the site and how a congruous form of rear development would enhance the setting of the Conservation Area. Feedback from the planners indicated that the Heritage Impact Statement is used in internal meetings as the benchmark when discussing other applications.