New Malden

Peacock + Smith secured planning permission for the partial demolition of the rear of a former bank building in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames. The scheme includes a new rear extension at ground, first and second floor level, along with the addition of a third floor. The development delivers six residential units (a net gain of five), alongside alterations to the ground floor frontage to bring the former bank back into use as a new commercial Class E unit.

A key challenge was ensuring the scheme would support high-quality living standards for future residents without adversely affecting neighbouring amenity. Peacock + Smith worked to shape the design and build the planning case that the proposal would provide acceptable levels of daylight, outlook and privacy. We worked closely with Consil (daylight and sunlight consultants) and Metashape Architects to ensure that any impacts on neighbouring daylight were limited to secondary windows and would not be harmful in planning terms. We also ensured that potential privacy issues from balconies and roof terraces were addressed through the layout and orientation of the scheme.

The Planning Statement also identified how the height, depth and materials of the extension are in keeping with the character of the area, supported by a review of local precedent. This helped deliver five high-quality homes within a dense urban setting, while responding to concerns from neighbours. Planning permission was therefore successfully secured for a constrained but underused site.