Policy information sourced from the Islington Development Management Policies

DM3.5 Private outdoor space

All new residential development and conversions will be required to provide good quality private outdoor space in the form of gardens, balconies, roof terraces and/or glazed ventilated winter gardens.

Where buildings utilise roofs to provide private outdoor space and other outdoor amenity space the proposal should take into consideration issues of design, overlooking and crime prevention. Use of roofs for amenity purposes will need to be balanced with the use for green roofs and renewable energy equipment through careful design which integrates the benefits for amenity, biodiversity and carbon reduction.

The minimum requirement for private outdoor space is 5m2 on upper floors and 15m2 on ground floors for 1-2 person dwellings. For each additional occupant, an extra 1m2 is required on upper floors and an extra 5m2 on ground floors up to a minimum of 30m2 for family housing (three bedroom residential units and above).

All new build residential developments and, where practicable, residential conversions should provide step-free access and a level threshold from homes to private outdoor space.

Balconies and other private external spaces should have a depth and width of not less than 1.5 metres.

Any basement and/or ground floor unit should have a defensible space not less than 1.5 metres in depth in front of any window to a bedroom or habitable room.

Also refer to Policy DM2.1 (Design), DM3.6 (Play space), DM6.2 (New and improved open spaces) and DM6.5 (Landscaping, trees and biodiversity).

For more information please see the Islington Development Management Policies