Policy information sourced from the Harrow Development Management Policies
DM 26: Conversion of Houses and other Residential Premises
Proposals for the conversion of houses and other residential premises to multiple homes will be supported where they provide a satisfactory standard of accommodation and contribute positively to their surroundings. Proposals will be required to:
- comply with the London Plan minimum space standards;
- wherever possible, ensure that homes are dual aspect (see Mayor of London’s Housing SPG) and that the arrangement of rooms secures the separation of bedrooms and other room uses between homes within the development and neighbouring dwellings having regard to the adequacy of any measures to prevent noise transference;
- achieve configurations that are practical and fit for purpose, having regard to circulation, storage space and room size and shape;
- ensure that all habitable rooms have a satisfactory environment in terms of privacy, daylight, outlook and exposure to external noise;
- make adequate arrangements for the provision of amenity space for future occupiers of the development (see Criterion B);
- make adequate arrangements for the storage and collection of waste and recycling material generated by future occupiers of the development (see Criterion C) which does not give rise to nuisance to future and neighbouring occupiers;
- ensure that the design of any external alterations does not detract from the appearance of the property or the streetscene and, wherever possible, retain a single door to the front elevation of dwellings in residential areas;
- ensure that the balance of hard and soft landscaping on the forecourt (including forecourts that are already substantially hardsurfaced) does not detract from the appearance of the property or the streetscene;
- make adequate provision for parking and safe access to and within the site and not lead to any material increase in substandard vehicular access; and
- ensure that levels of external activity would not be detrimental to residential amenity and character.
Where an existing garden is available, proposals must make this available for all future occupiers of the development, preferably through subdivision to form private amenity spaces for each home and accessible within the site boundary. Where, exceptionally, amenity space is to be provided communally, the Council will wish to be satisfied that there would be adequate privacy safeguards for the ground floor occupiers and that there will be robust, sustainable arrangements in place for managing the on-going maintenance responsibilities.
As part of the subdivision of rear gardens to form private amenity spaces for future occupiers, proposals must make provision for bin storage within those amenity areas and a suitable access for them to be wheeled to the forecourt for collection. Where such storage cannot be achieved (for example, terraced houses) there must be adequate space on the forecourt to accommodate the bins and provide suitable screening in conjunction with other forecourt uses.
Proposals for extensions and alterations to converted houses and other residential premises will be supported having regard to the above criteria.
Proposals that would lead to an overintensive conversion, or which would compromise any component of this policy, will be refused.
For more information please see the Development Management Policies