Planning permission submitted for rear extension in Richmond Conservation area

We have submitted a householder planning application consent to the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames for a rear extension at Martineau Drive.

The property is a semi-detached house built in the early 2000s, forming part of a gated development of four-storey traditional-style dwellings in the St Margaret’s Estate conservation area. The house steps down from an upper ground entry level to a lower ground floor with direct access to the rear garden – a split-level arrangement typical of the riverside streets between St Margaret’s and the Thames. The proposal works entirely within that existing lower ground floor footprint, squaring off the rear extension to deliver an additional 9.45 sqm of useable kitchen, dining and living space. The upper terrace above is extended in line with the enlarged room below, with the balustrade extended and a new side wall introduced to manage overlooking – all designed to match the materials, proportions and detailing of the existing host property.

Working in the St Margaret’s Estate conservation area places clear demands on design. Richmond’s Local Plan requires development to conserve the character of the historic environment, and the St Margaret’s Village SPD sets out detailed guidance on how that should be read in practice. Our approach to the design is straightforward: the extension does not project beyond the building line of the adjoining property, uses matching brick, cornice, balustrade and glazing proportions throughout, and remains subservient in scale to the main house. A precedent exists in Martineau Drive, where a materially similar scheme – single- storey rear extension at lower ground level with an extended balcony over – was approved in June 2021.

Richmond upon Thames is one of the more demanding planning authorities to work in. Conservation area designations, Article 4 directions, and a strong emphasis on design quality mean that applications require careful preparation and a clear understanding of local policy. We work regularly across the borough – from Teddington and St Margaret’s through to Hampton and Richmond itself – and understand what the authority expects from a well- prepared submission.

If you are looking for a residential architect to achieve planning permission in Twickenham or the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, get in touch.