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Basement extensions don't go down well with neighbours
Mira Bar-Hillel16 Mar 2009
A CRAZE for basement extensions is triggering complaints from neighbours across London.
The number has doubled in many areas as families seek to improve their houses rather than sell in a falling property market.
But those living near the developments, which cost up to £3 million, say they are intolerably noisy and accuse councils of failing to police the disruption.
TV host Matthew Wright has spoken of his year-long "nightmare" as his neighbour in a Primrose Hill mews undertook a major basement extension. He said the noise and stress caused him to quit his Radio 2 show. Even earplugs would not cut-out the din caused by contractors working for architect and developer Ian Patty.
At its worst, residents claimed a cement mixer smashed a sewerage drain and leaking cement left their toilets blocked. Wright, 43, said: "I've been assaulted by noise and vibration for more than a year. I wouldn't wish what I've been going through on my worst enemy. Vibrations from the work can be enough to shake the whole bed while I am in it." Residents' association treasurer Mariusz Stochaj, 45, said: "There was a total lack of consideration for the neighbourhood."
But a woman living opposite, who asked not to be named, said Mr Patty "was very apologetic and has made peace with everyone". Mr Patty could not be reached for comment.
Wright, the host of Channel Five's The Wright Stuff, faces more disruption. Camden council planners will decide on a similar scheme across the road on Thursday. Wright said: "I fear that another huge double basement will be too much for such a small, stressed community to bear." A new extension in Kingstown Street is planned by former Merrill Lynch banker Patrik Zeigherman and includes a home cinema and gym.
Resident Carol Cartright, 61, said: "The noise of the last works went on every day and was so bad I had to move away for a week. Lorries were parked in this narrow street from 8am to 6pm. We've had 10 years of hell with various redevelopments and we were devastated to hear about these new plans."
Linda Seward, 54, who lives nearby, added: "The owners will move away while the place is being demolished and rebuilt, leaving the neighbours to suffer the consequences over a minimum of at least a year."
Camden council promised to clamp down on underground building work last year. In January it issued guidance advising against extensions more than three metres deep or which took up more than half the outside space of the property.
Mr Zeigherman's basement is almost seven metres deep and will take up the entire garden space. Mr Zeigherman, who has three children, said: "We are doing nothing illegal or improper. The objecting neighbours have constructed extensions themselves, albeit not basements. I am just a homeowner with a growing family doing what I think is best for them. We live within a legal framework, and I await the committee decision on Thursday."
A Camden spokeswoman said: "The council cannot refuse planning permission unless there is a sound and clear-cut reason." Camden's planners are tackling an upsurge in applications for basement extensions, particularly in Hampstead and St John's Wood. Westminster council has also seen a "major trend" towards such developments while in Kensington and Chelsea the number of applications doubled between 2006 and 2007 to 86.
Reader views (5)
While I agree that people have the right to extend their homes within strict environmental, structural and Council guidelines, I cannot abide by the complete lack of consideration that some basement conversation companies adopt. The London Basement Company, a so called reputable Company, has proved to be a group with little concern to neighbours, no consideration and an appalling work philosophy with little integrity. We have now had five months of noise, mud and general inconvenience from a bunch of so called skilled Eastern bloc workers. They are inconsiderate, rude, aggressive and care little for anyone else. They have turned much of our street into a builder’s yard, pay token effort to any clear up and really see the work as a numbers game on how many they can convert in the shortest possible time. They have splattered cars with cement, initially deny all knowledge and then finally agree to have them professionally cleaned. Following formal complaints over one of their employee’s aggression and rudeness, I now find that my car has been keyed in a vindictive malicious attack. I have never known a Company with less integrity or consideration to others and would strongly suggest that people seriously consider the effects on others before they embark on work from the London Basement Company.
- David, London, 17/04/2009 08:58
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Just be glad that Camden Council didn't build a raft of "road speed tables" in close proximity to your property!
- Fraser, Telford Park, 17/03/2009 02:21
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There appears to a bad case of NIMBY here. People have the lawful right to develop their property. These cases appear to have gone through the correct channels to gain approval for the work, and the builders are working to standard hours - so there's no real or lawful reason to complain. People have modified their homes for centuries, and despite the belief, the buildings around us, nice and pretty mews houses or otherwise, won't last forever, so they are either improved or replaced. Given the climate, the logical thing to do is to improve it. We should be up in arms over the illegal and dangerous work done with permission - thats the blight on the neighbourhood.
- Designer A, London, 16/03/2009 17:16
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The deputy leader of Kensington & Chelsea said in my presence that councils could not stop such developments. If that is correct it is a scandal but it does not stop them enforcing a reasonable code of practice. A rental property is made worthless for the time the work is done and the owner should be paid damages for lost rent.
- William, London, 16/03/2009 16:03
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Americans are the worst culprits for this: they seem to think they can transfer their lifestyle of swimming pools and cinemas directly to London. They have utterly ruined St John's Wood and Primrose Hill with their cupidity and rapacious cunsumerism. Lovely little mews houses are now giant mansions costing £5m. These are then sold on and the new owners don't fancy the wallpaper so back come the builders and another year of disruption, noise and another pointless extension goes up.
- Neil M., london uk,, 16/03/2009 12:14
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