As living space is at a premium in London, particularly in highly sought after areas such as Islington, basement extensions have become extremely popular in recent years. This essentially involves expanding and improving a property’s basement to create more underground living space, and is a tactic which many developers use on properties where traditional extensions would be impossible due to a lack of room.

Last year, Islington Council introduced restrictions on basement extensions, following in the footsteps of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. The aim of these restrictions is to minimise negative impact on the environment, and to preserve the character and structural stability of the borough’s properties.

Various new rules were brought in, including guidelines which limit basement extensions from being more than double the size of the original building’s “footprint”, or from taking up more than half the garden – whichever is less. Basement alterations will also have to adhere to specific standards regarding the impact on neighbours and surrounding trees and gardens, as well as sticking to certain guidelines in terms of depth. Any plans which do not adhere to the required guidelines will be rejected and cannot go ahead.

If you have invested in a property in London and are planning to alter, improve or extend it in some way to increase its profitability, it is important to be aware of the restrictions you may face. This is why it’s always advisable to seek guidance from property professionals who have an in-depth knowledge of the process. That’s where we can help you.

We specialise in handling all types of London property, and can provide all the advice and guidance you need whether you are investing, selling, or planning to convert or change a property in your portfolio. We also offer full property and block management in Islington and all other London boroughs to help reduce your workload.