Camden News: Basement Excavations | Planning Guideline | Heath and Hampstead Society | Kingstown Street

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Camden News - by DAN CARRIER
Published: 26 February 2009

How deep is our commitment on new basements?

Application to test council guidelines

A TEST case over new planning guidelines for basement excavations is due to be decided by councillors tonight (Thursday).
They will rule on a request for permission to dig out a basement at a house in Kingstown Street, Primrose Hill, to a depth of around 11 metres.
It will test the strength of the guidance issued in December which stated that excavations should not go deeper than three metres.
The planning advice was issued after vigorous lobbying from conservation group the Heath and Hampstead Society. A series of requests for basement excavations, campaigners warned, risked destabilising surrounding houses.
Planning chiefs will consider the first basement application since the guidance was issued at the meeting, and will hear how the plans have stirred protests.
The council has received 80 letters of objection.
Architects working on the proposals last night (Wednesday) declined to comment.
Linda Seward, who lives nearby, said: “The application appears to be in direct conflict with the current basement planning guidance notes issued by Camden.
“We are all devastated by this latest plan. We are particularly concerned by the effects of the excavation, which cannot be predicted as there has been no precedent for a double basement in Primrose Hill. The subterranean water pattern of this area is variable, with a number of underlying ancient streams and water courses. The incidence of building subsidence is quite high, often caused by new developments reacting with older houses.”
She added: “Damage caused by extensive and deep excavation is a serious possibility. This would be an appalling precedent that completely ignores the clear guidelines that Camden set out just two months ago.”
The Heath and Hampstead Society’s Gordon Mclean said: “I am interested in seeing whether these guidelines are being taken seriously.”
Despite the new guidance, the planning committee has been advised by the department’s officers that they can approve the scheme.
A planning report said the tests on a similar site suggested the excavation would not affect underground water courses. The applicants have agreed to carry out a geological survey if they win planning approval.
“The council would need to be satisfied that any actual or potential instability can be overcome and thus that there would be no risk to adjoining land or local amenities,” the report said.

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