‘Tighten rules’ on basements
TWO leading civic groups have demanded tougher planning policies are introduced for basements underneath homes.
The Heath and Hampstead Society and the Highgate Society met this week with senior members of Camden Council’s planning department to lobby for tighter rules.
Planners are currently working on a Local Development Framework (LDF), a document they will submit to Whitehall at the end of the year which will guide them in shaping new planning laws.
The two groups say the unique geological make-up of earth beneath their villages should mean the Town Hall demands more stringent engineering investigations before passing basement applications. They hope new laws will include stronger powers to refuse basement applications, and will make developers sink deep bore holes before work can start to build up an accurate picture of what exactly lies beneath and whether it will lead to flooding or subsidence.
Heath and Hampstead Society chairman Tony Hillier said: “There are clear planning guidelines nationally which in effect means any big basement excavation in the area of Hampstead and Highgate, because of the geology, can be turned down.”
Parts of Hampstead and Highgate sit on earth called bagshot sand, which engineers say is unstable.
He added: “Giving approval without thorough bore hole resting and analysis is against the law. The issue for us is to educate the planning authority.”
The meeting comes in a week that saw the Town Hall’s planning committee give permission to a home owner in Cannon Lane to sink a two-storey hole below their house.
DAN CARRIER