Policy information sourced from The Waltham Forest Local Plan Development Management Policies

DM 7 External Amenity and Internal Space Standards

The Council will aim to ensure that all new residential development, including conversions and changes of use, is of the highest quality both internally and externally by:

Internal Spaces Standards

A) Seeking proposals to meet the minimum internal space standards as set out in tables 8.1 and 8.2.These omit studio flats and 1bed, 1person homes; the Council does not support their provision in the borough;

External Amenity Space Standards

B) Seeking proposals to meet minimum external space standards as set out in table 8.3 and ensure that:

  • All homes, including flatted development, should have access to an element of private space. Balconies will count towards private amenity space;
  • The role and function of each space is clear and that the boundaries between these different types of space are clearly defined;
  • The external amenity space should be well-designed, appropriately located and usable. External amenity space should not be steeply sloping, awkwardly shaped or very narrow;
  • The communal external amenity space is easily accessible by all residents of that development. Communal external amenity space can be provided in the form of green roofs and roof gardens;
  • Where external amenity space standards cannot be provided on-site the Council may require financial contributions towards enhance or upgrade the provision of local open space(s) in the vicinity of the development; and
  • The calculation of external amenity space should exclude footpaths, driveways, areas for vehicle circulation and parking.

C) Seeking proposals to meet the minimum play space standards as set out in table 8.3.

For more information please see the Local Plan Development Management Policies