Basements Policy Review

The Council is undertaking a partial review of the Core Strategy. A bespoke basement policy is part of this review and once adopted will become part of the Core Strategy. Visit our timetable and weight accorded to the emerging policy webpage for further information on when the emerging policy will take effect.

Second Draft Consultation (21 Mar - 2 May 2013)

You can view the responses received on this consultation on the Consultation Portal.

The following documents relate to this consultation.

In addition the responses received on the previous consultation on the draft basements policy can be downloaded.

You can also download a copy of the amended report on basements by Alan Baxter’s Associates. Section 10 of the document has been amended slightly to clarify issues relating to the Party Wall Act and other typographical errors have been corrected throughout the document. 

Second Draft Policy Question and Answer Session

The Council organised a Q & A session on the second draft of basements policy on 8th April 2013 at Kensington Town Hall. You can download the notes of this session below.

Basements Working Group

A Basements Working Group has been established. This comprises members, residents, developers and specialists. Four meetings were held in February, to discuss how the policy might be modified in the light of the broad themes from the consultation. The notes of the meetings and terms of reference are available on the basements working group webpage.

Basements Draft Policy Consultation (Dec - Jan 2013)

In addition you can download a copy of the basements study prepared by Alan Baxter’s Associates to help inform the review.

Draft Policy Consultation Events

The Council organised two public consultation events on the draft basements policy. The first of these was on the evening of 9 January 2013 and the second on the evening of 21 January 2013. These events were both well attended by over 50 people. A summary of comments made at these events can be found below.

Basement Survey Responses

The Council carried out a survey of residents in August/September 2012 to better understand their concerns regarding basements. The responses to the surveys can be found below and more information can be found on the basements survey webpage.

Basements issues (previous consultation - April 2012)

Markham Square Vanguard

The Vanguard group of Markham Square has been working with the Council and seeking to influence the revision of those of its policies and procedures which relate to basement development right across the borough. More information is available in the neighbourhood planning webpage.

Advice to builders

A number of issues relating to structure such as the Party Wall Act, construction, transport, noise and vibration are also controlled by legislation outside the planning regime. The Council’s Environmental Health team has, therefore, brought together best practice methods covering a whole range of issues which developers, builders and residents should take into account when involved in a basement project. This advise can be viewed in the Advice for builders and residents webpage.

Page last updated 21 March 2013