The following addresses applied for planning permission in Camden to increase the height of their houses, adding a fourth floor, and cutting the units into more small flats, bedsits and studio flats for 135 Kings Cross Road and a one-bedroom apartment for 103 Kings Cross Road.

One possible objection could be that such accommodation is likely to be serving short-term tenancies, student accommodation or Airbnbs. The area already suffers from a drain of the communal. Could this increase crime and anti-social behaviour?

One could argue that the last thing this area needs are even more transient non-caring residents and that the council should encourage instead the creation of accommodation that brings in more permanent residents into the area. The units will be too small for people who need office space or want to live here permanently. There are already several hotels, student accommodation blocks and the tiniest single-person units in the area.

Architecture and Historic Appearance:

There are further questions about the appearance of the roads and the upkeep of its 19th-century appearance. Any renovation should be closely aligned in a way that does not further infringe on the already altered appearance of the original old housing quarters of King’s Cross.

Will the material be in line with its historic appearance and materials? How will it contribute to the preservation of the historic building?

Infringement of Privacy:

Sometimes when higher levels are constructed, certain residents nearby may lose the privacy they enjoyed before.

Comments and objections should go to Email planning@camden.gov.uk.

2022/2687/P

Flat A, 135 King’s Cross Road London WC1X 9BJ

Erection of mansard roof extension, extension at fourth-floor level to the existing three-storey rear extension and extension at upper ground floor level to existing lower ground floor extension to facilitate the conversion of 1 residential dwelling to 3 studio flats and 3 single bed-sits with shared kitchen & dining space (House of Multiple Occupation).

2022/2623/P

103 King’s Cross Road London WC1X 9LP

Construction of 4th floor mansard roof extension; to provide, a 1bedroom self-contained dwelling, with recessed terrace.

REGISTERED

20-07-2022

Valid Reasons to Object :

• Loss of light or overshadowing (this isn’t just a high wall – it means loss of light to the extent that you don’t get enough natural daylight to see by).
• Overlooking/loss of privacy
• Visual amenity (but not loss of private view)
• Adequacy of parking/loading/turning
• Highway safety
• Traffic generation
• Noise and disturbance resulting from use
• Hazardous materials
• Smells
• Loss of trees
• Effect on listed buildings and conservation area
• Layout and density of building
• Design, appearance and materials
• Landscaping
• Road access
• Local, strategic, regional and national planning policies
• Government circulars, orders and statutory instruments
• Disabled persons’ access
• Compensation and awards of cost against the Council at public enquiries
• Proposals in the Development Plan
• Nature conservation
• Archaeology
• Solar panels
• Fear of crime (with evidence to show that the fear is based in reality)

Reasons the council will not consider or are part of other authorities include

• loss of value to your property (the Council cannot reject a planning application on the grounds that it will reduce the value of your house if built).
• competition (the Council can’t reject an application for a business on the grounds that it will compete with another, existing business).
• loss of view (you might have bought your house because of the lovely view across the field, but we can’t reject an application on that basis)
• boundary disputes including encroachment of foundations
• private covenants or agreements
• the applicant’s personal conduct or history (just because she’s fiddled the system before, we can’t reject her latest application).
• the applicant’s motives
• potential profit from the application for the applicant
• private rights to light
• private rights to way/access
• damage to property
• disruption during any construction phase
• work already done
• fence lines
• loss of trade or competitors
• age, health, status, background
• work patterns of the objector
• time taken to do the work
• capacity of private drains
• building or structural techniques
• alcohol or gaming licences
• matters covered by other legislation

When considering an application, the Council also has to ask “What could be done without any application?”

(taken from Ian Roberts. Which objections can be taken into account in Planning Applications)