Policy information sourced from Lambeth Local Plan 2020-2035

Q14 Development in gardens and amenity spaces

  • A. Development in gardens (or on land most recently used as gardens) should not result in loss of biodiversity, loss of trees of value, or poor drainage and accord with the requirements set out in parts (b), (c ), (d) and (e) below.
  • B. Front gardens and prominent corner/side gardens are not considered appropriate for development. Car parking in these locations will only be permitted for Blue Badge holders where a Blue Badge parking space cannot be accommodated on-street within an acceptable distance. In such cases, the proposal should demonstrate that:
    • there would be no harm to the visual amenity or biodiversity value;
    • there would be no harm to residential outlook;
    • an adequate boundary treatment can be maintained across the street frontage (without the need for outward opening gates);
    • perimeter shrub planting is provided to act as a screen;
    • as much soft landscaping as possible is retained and the parking area surface is permeable to water;
    • access arrangements meet relevant standards (including inclusive mobility guidance), are safe and direct;
    • creation or widening of a crossover would not result in the unacceptable loss of on-street parking spaces, result in more than one crossover at the property, be at odds with local distinctiveness or harm the character or appearance of a conservation area; and
    • parking spaces meet the minimum standard dimensions.
  • C. New development in rear gardens (or on land last used as rear gardens) will be supported where:
  • D. outside of conservation areas, the total area of ground covered by buildings within the curtilage does not exceed 50 per cent of the total area of the curtilage excluding the ground area of the original dwelling; and
  • E. Local Plan policy H5 requirements for external amenity space for both new and existing residential properties on the site are achieved, plus an additional 10m2 amenity space for every bedroom above three in the host building; and
    • it is subordinate in height and scale to the host building; and
    • access arrangements meet relevant standards (including inclusive mobility guidance), are safe and direct; and
    • there would be no unacceptable impacts on amenity.
  • Domestic curtilage structures such as garden sheds, garages and summer houses should not exceed one storey and should be set back at least 1m from all site boundaries (to allow access for the maintenance and to provide gaps between buildings) unless site circumstances dictate otherwise.
  • In addition to the requirements in (c) and (d) above, development on return frontages (rear gardens that front a side road) will only be supported where:
    • sufficient gaps between buildings, and views to the rear are retained maintained; and
    • established building lines are respected.

For more information please see the Local Plan