Forum Topic

TG Conservation Area extension - a good idea?

Having just received notification from LBH of the extension and finding my house, which has no historical or architectural merit (!), is within the extended conservation area got me wondering whether it is a good idea.LBH states they carried out consultation - I do not remember ever receiving any information about a consultation, but I could equally have binned it as a circular.In my immediate environment over the last 3-4 years the worst examples of trashing buildings with historic or architectural merit have all been happily approved by LBH: new assisted living flats (design is actually reasonable and pays homage to the footprint of the original building) on corner of SCR & Barrowgate replaced a beautiful late 19C/early 20C very large house, corner of Barrowgate and Garth Road the huge Victorian pile and ex LBH property is being replaced by a block of flats of what IMO is very mediocre architecture and there is even a rear extension or possible knocking 2 houses into 1 on Ellesmere Road/Garth Road corner where all the art deco style of architecture has been lost in favour of a square box.Will the conservation area status actually stop such bad developments if LBH planning appears to be supportive of the idea of knocking down as much early 20C and late 19C architecture as possible?

Justin Stephenson ● 2085d12 Comments

Conservation status is meaningless in the eyes of Hounslow council. They still approve lots of poor development and allow implementation of poorly thought out street furniture. Prime example is the new traffics scheme in Staveley road where ghastly plastics barriers are in place in the heart of a conservation area.

Alina Dansord ● 2085d

Just to point out that all the barriers put up are temporary and that if it is decided to keep the closures I would imagine that LBH would then think about the design. One advantage of conservation status is that if paving stones are taken up, they have to be replaced with like for like. Tarmacadam is not allowed. Outside the conservation area they can put down whichever is convenient/cheapest

Iris Hill ● 2085d

The overall answer is NO.There are additional planning controls over certain works carried out within the conservation area. For example, demolition within conservation areas requires consent. The designation does not preclude development from taking place but does require that developments preserve or enhance the historic character of the area, for example by ensuring that newly constructed buildings are of a high quality design. Conservation area status also removes some permitted development rights that apply in undesignated areas.In conservation areas, it is the protection of the quality and special interest of the neighbourhood or area as a whole that is intended, rather than specific buildings. For example, the layout of boundaries, roads, vistas and viewpoints, trees and green features, street furniture and surfaces, the characteristic building materials of the area, the mix of different uses, and the design of shop fronts may all be taken into account when deciding whether an area has a particular special architectural or historic interest.

Cllr Sam Hearn ● 2085d

In your dreams Iris.  I live in a conservation area and paving slabs are always replaced with tar.  Even in the streets which were repaved a few years ago.  When questioning the workmen their reply was ‘tell that to the Council’.Where a dead tree was removed 10 years ago the large base was allowed to settle and then they would replace the tree.  Instead when we queried how long before the new tree would be planted, the space was tarred over.A few years later both ground and tar have unevenly sunk, the deepest 20 to 30 cms.  A complaint about the danger to pedestrians was dealt with by placing a big red cone on top.

Elizabeth Ross ● 2085d

Elizabeth is right on this one.The Chiswick High Road Conservation Area has meant nothing when it comes to planning control. Now the council is consulting on updating it or amending it. But what's the point? There is no one at the council who is overseeing these intiatives and curating effectively as a trained preservationist. It seems to be very petty BS of trim a branch here and prevent a skylight there even though the immediately adjacent property in the same conservation area has skylights. Or my extension is bigger than yours but it can't be the other way around. The tarmac tree pit is a joke. You can see pavers and then you can see the tarmac patch. About 18 months ago LBH was on a tree-planting frenzy. I enquired why the tarmac-ed tree pit wasnt being converted back to its initial purpose. I was told it had to do with the inventory of trees when Hounslow Highways took over. If a tree was lost on their watch, those were the trees that got replaced. End of. This passes for place making and beautification?

David Lesniak ● 2084d

I would agree with the majority of respondents so far  that the designation of a Conservation Area has  very little, if any,  bearing on LBH's planning decisions. I have lived in a CA for 25 years and in that time I have seen some monstrous residential developments approved. Many of these do not even conform to the Planning, let alone the CA guidelines extensively circulated by the Planning Dept.The one good thing, as Cuncillor Hearn points out, is that some PD rights are removed, for example,  David Cameron's decision to allow people to build  8 metre deep extensions.Also, if you live in a CA you have to apply for permission to prune a tree at a cost of £150 I think it is.

Mairi Franses ● 2084d

If the CA is in Hounslow,then the contract with Hounslow Highways says that stones have to replace any paving slabs that are taken up. Around trees they have to put tarmac because the roots push everything up. If you are in a Hounslow CA and the slabs were replaced after 2013 (I think that is when HH took up the contract), complain via Fixmystreet.

Iris Hill ● 2084d

Mairi - I do not believe that there is any charge for applying to prune a tree covered by a tree preservation order (TPO). Also whatever David Cameron may or may not have said I do not believe that 8 metre extensions are permitted.

Cllr Sam Hearn ● 2084d

£150 to approve pruning a tree!!Now I understand LBH, it is nothing to do with conservation just about cash. I can just about understand the conservation imperative which dictates needing approval for pruning trees that face a road but what possible benefit is there, other than LBH wanting cash and Council officials wanting to exercise power, in needing approval for pruning trees in a back garden which cannot be seen from the road (and in some cases can barely been seen from someone else's back garden)

Justin Stephenson ● 2084d

Why does anyone defend LBH?

Maggie Dodge ● 2084d

One of the more ridiculous examples I've seen is a recent application in Bedford Park being denied for the color choice. The owner chose something other than white for the trim. How very dare they.About a month prior to that, I did a delivery in Acton. The owner clearly did a complete, fastidiuos total refurb of a beautiful Victorian. They chose a dark green for the trim. The place looked incredible.

David Lesniak ● 2084d

Sam, This is from the Planning Portal :"Where not on Article 2(3) designated land* or a Site of Special Scientific Interest; and subject to ‘prior approval’, the limit for single-storey rear extensions is increased to eight metres if a detached house; or six metres for any other house.This requires that the relevant Local Planning Authority is informed of the proposed work via a prior approval application." I believe that many local residents have been able to take advantage of this measure, (introduced by the Coalition govt in 2012- not necessarily to build  8 metre extensions, but certainly  deeper ones than would have been allowed before, as long as  the other criteria for PD are met.To do work to a tree in a CA you now have to notify the PD 6 weeks prior to commencing work to allow them to inspect the tree and determine whether it should be made the subject of a TPO.

Mairi Franses ● 2084d