Basement developments driving us mad

It sometimes seems like everywhere you go in Highgate, Hampstead and Belsize these days there’s a basement development that’s driving neighbours mad and a horse and carriages through common sense.

There’s one that’s been underway on for nearly two years in South Hill Park in Hampstead (see photo). The owners are building a swimming pool and jacuzzi complex that will allow them to look out over the Heath. Huge cracks have appeared in party walls and the peace and quiet of the street has been shot to pieces.

Despite Camden Council providing clearer guidance on basements when I was last a councillor (2006-10) the rules are still too lax. And Camden’s Planning Committee, which is mainly Labour councillors who seem to know nothing about how planning affects residents, is granting far too many applications for mega basements.

Basement developments do not provide any much needed new housing - most indulge private whims such as cinemas, gyms, and pools. They represent a threat to the structural integrity of nearby buildings. They can interfere with the water table and can cause flooding. If the traditional channel for water is blocked it has to find another way.

There’s now an online petition asking the government to introduce controls. It will strengthen the planning authority's right to make a decision based on the local situation rather than as at present having this overturned on appeal by central government.

Please sign this petition and write to the Chair of Camden Council’s Planning Committee, Cllr Sue Vincent, asking her and her Labour colleagues to be tougher on basement developments.