Barking Road

Residential Development, London

This new residential development is located at the end of a continuous row of two storey terrace properties and will include a ground floor rear extension, two new dormer windows to the attic level facing the rear of the site, three new windows to the existing flank wall, new windows and glazed door, clerestory window, light well and stair to the basement unit and a new building containing two residential flats in place of former garages. The existing building is a two storey Victorian building with associated basement and loft conversion which is currently used as a hotel. The flats are accessed via two entrances, the existing main entrance and a side private entrance.

The proposed new two-storey building to the rear boundary follows the line of the existing rear boundary wall facing the gardens along Hollybush Street. The new building roof level is set back from this elevation to minimise the impact on the existing gardens. A single storey projection to the West flank encloses a newly landscaped courtyard designed to provide privacy for the new tenants. The front garden will be used as communal amenity space. Refuse and recycling storage will be located by the garden to the side adjacent to access road entrance. The flat roofs and lowered ground floor slab to the new building minimised the overall massing of the building to prevent excessive impact on the neighbouring properties.

The materials to the proposed extension have been chosen to be sympathetic to the existing building including London stock brick with Flemish bond to match existing, double glazed timber sash windows, and lead clad dormer windows. The proposed to the rear proposes a new building with traditional industrial aesthetic with large sub-divided steel windows and subordinate grey stock brick cladding. The proposed landscaping plans propose the use of high quality materials to the landscaping including: paving to the communal garden and main entrance; stained timber cladding with sedum roof to the refuse, recycling and bicycle stores; timber seating to the communal courtyard; and stained timber gates to the side passage.

The new building, extension, dormer windows and new windows greatly enhance the appearance of the original building and provide additional residential accommodation for the borough.

The existing amenity of the neighbouring residents to the rear and side has been considered in the design and report prepared to demonstrate the impact of the proposals on the existing amenity is acceptable. The creation of a new rear courtyard space provides a new amenity space for the residents and the removal of the dilapidated former garage improves the outlook from the main building.