Barnmead Road Conservation Area:

Planning Update, March 2005

We have previously issued guidance notes on planning matters to all residents, and these are also included in our welcome pack for all new residents. However, recently changes have been introduced by Bromley Council which need to be conveyed to everyone. We have lobbied successfully for the west end of Barnmead Road to be incorporated into the Article 4 Directive, and this has now been ratified. Previously we reported on the reasons why such status was important to enhance and preserve the architectural heritage of this community, and those reasons are still valid.

Bromley Council have issued Planning Guidelines which have been formally adopted within local planning law, and a summary is attached. It is intended as an aid for anyone considering making an alteration to the front or side of their house, including their front walls, gates and roof. It also contains information on the history of our road and reasons for its preservation and enhancement.

While there will be a need to seek planning permission for any of the areas described below, it is important to remember that you must obtain written consent prior to commencing work.  The consequences of not following this procedure could be followed by an enforcement notice and/or considerable additional expense.

Planning Permission is now required for:

·         Replacement windows and alterations to windows or window openings to any part of the building

·          The alteration of removal of any part or whole of a rear conservatory

·          Re-roofing and/or the alteration to the roof by material or addition of a skylight

·          Exterior painting of any wall (but windows can be re-painted without consent)

·          Making or altering a hard surface (such a path or a drive) within any part of the curtilage

·          Building a porch outside any external door on any elevation

·          Installing, altering or replacing a satellite dish

·          Replacing or altering an existing front entrance door

·          The removal, replacement or construction of a porch

·          The alteration and/or removal of front gates, walls and other means of enclosure adjacent to the highway.

These provisions took place in December 1992 and June 1999.

This does not affect those developments which already require Planning Permission, i.e. :

·         Any proposed development which seeks to enlarge the property by more than 10% of the original volume of the building. Garages within the curtilage of the property, as well as existing extensions, will count as part of the additional 10%.

·          The proposed change or removal of any chimney stack.

·          The application of render to the front and/or flank walls.

·          The lopping, topping, pruning, uprooting or felling of any tree with a trunk diameter of more than 75mm., except fruit trees (but you are advised to check)

·          The conversion of a single dwelling into multiple dwellings or vice versa.

·          The demolition of any building or part, within the conservation area.

In principle, only second-hand London brick facing stocks should be employed for any wall, only slate or slate substitute for roofing, only timber sliding-sash framed windows. All other materials, such as tile or aluminium or uPVC windows and/or framing are likely to be refused consent. Please check first. It is also worth pointing out that tiled roofs will impose a heavier load than slate, and structural timber failure is now becoming more common where this has been applied, including cases in Barnmead Road.

There is a list of contacts at Bromley Council within the Conservation Area document in this pack, and you are urged to discuss your proposals with the appropriate person before embarking on your development. We would also urge you to seek professional advice in making your application, as clear, fully-annotated, properly-drawn plans and application forms can save a lot of time for all parties.