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Camden News - by TOM FOOT
Published: 26 March 2009

Matthew Wright

Town Hall ‘duped’ on basement planning

PLANNING councillors ignored the advice of their own officials and threw out plans for a basement development in Primrose Hill last Thursday night.
The application was opposed by TV presenter Matthew Wright, who was at the Town Hall to see the proposals for a home in Kingstown Street refused.
Mr Wright lives in the same street and argues that constant demolition and excavation works as a result of residents digging out basements has led to endless disruption over the past six years.
Mr Wright said: “I understand the people want to build in the houses but they should come and look at my house and see the damage that these kinds of developments can cause.”
Camden Council introduced new guidelines in January, supposedly to restrict the number of new basement developments. But planning officials admitted at Thursday’s meeting that the new guide was not strong enough grounds to throw out the application in Primrose Hill.
One officer told councillors at the meeting they “hold very little weight” and that the guidelines were just an advisory document.
Councillor Sue Vincent said: “We’ve been duped – we were told we had a policy to stop these developments and we don’t. We are clearly deeply unhappy.”
Homeowner Patrick Zeigherman wanted to demolish his house and replace it with a new home, complete with a two-storey basement.
His architect Matthew Street said: “The building work will be done in a safe, sympathetic and responsible way. We have responded to residents’ concerns on materials and design. We think the building will enhance the character of the area. All the excavation work will be done in an exemplary manner.”
The application was considered for one and half hours but thrown out after five officers voted against it.
Mr Wright said afterwards that the meeting was “extraordinary”, adding: “What they were saying was in effect that the guidance note was not worth the paper it was printed on.”
Ward councillor Pat Callaghan, who is not on the committee but was protesting against the development, said: “This type of development is guaranteed to destroy our area. It would set a dangerous precedent – more will follow.”

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