Islington Architects

The popular borough of Islington is a small but diverse area brimming with plenty of unique architectural buildings. The classical style is known from the array of 3 to 4 storey houses with London butterfly roofs, retaining the original street layout which was set down in the 19th century. With many historical buildings, such as Sadlers Wells theatre, the planning department has succeeded in retaining the character of Islington by implementing planning policies that refuse poorly designed or inappropriate applications.

There is a level of pressure from developers which the council endeavours to answer by not only rigorously preserving the distinction of its characteristic appeal, but to enhance the traditional aesthetic. There are contemporary financial buildings along Islington’s border, which passed through Islington planning applications in order to improve neglected areas.

Islington Architects and Planning Applications

Islington Planning favours:

1. Islington appreciates clear and transparent information in its applications, which are individual to the site and not prescriptive or generic. Information should focus on the design solution along with policy requirements.
2. Islington likes developments which define a space and promote community safety. [This can be enabled by avoiding dark, unlit corners in a new design.] They should fit in the background or in context with public life in order to connect communities. These are so important that Islington architects consider them as design features, along with aesthetics.
3. Islington also promotes green walls and roofs to reduce pollution levels and promote cooling in urban centres. The residential density is high, and the ratio per capita of open spaces is low, hence green infrastructure is very much encouraged.
4. Islington planning applications which improve and reintegrate low standard sites with the good character of the rest of the area.
5. Well-lit pedestrian routes with clear sightlines [no alleys or tunnels with corners].
6. Natural surveillance. Communal courtyards or adjacent spaces should not be walled but have windows to inhibit crime or unsocial activity.

Islington Planning resists:

1. Flat conversions are a popular application theme, as are HMOs (Houses in Multiple Occupation). This is probably due to prospective revenue, but also possible because of the demand for single units. However because of the shortage of larger units, these tend to be resisted by council planning departments, particularly if there are already conversions along the same street, because each road tends to have a certain quota.
2. Moreover, Islington will not allow an HMO if it negates larger units, which invariably it would in nearly 100% of cases! Exceptions to this would be if it was a change of use from non-residential, or if it was a new build.
3. Gated communities; as these undermine natural surveillance and disconnect communities.
4. Gated routes; which are not a solution to design or community flaws and obstruct thoroughfare.
5. Unlit corners: these promote crime and adversely impact feelings of safety.

Islington Planning advantages:

1. A good thing about Islington’s attitude to design is that they do not wish for a blanket style across an entire area. In this way, they actively encourage innovative design solutions instead of the monotonous procedure of ticking boxes. Again, the result goes beyond pleasing aesthetics as the planning department understands the social and economic impact of good design in its four commercial town centres.
2. Another inspirational initiative on the part of Islington is their cohesive approach that affordable housing should not be of a lower standard than private accommodation. This social policy has positive and far-reaching implications to reduce ubiquitous social segregation in the near future.

Islington Planning Applications on Flat Conversions

If you wish to undergo a flat conversion, the property needs to be at least 125m ², and one of the units must be 2 beds (or larger). If the house is 140m ², 2 of the units must be 1 x 2 bed and 1 x 3 bed, which is due to the pressure on housing stock for larger units. The borough policies aim to ensure good accommodation to enhance quality of life.

Our Islington Architect Services

Extension Architecture’s portfolio includes several Islington planning applications with the Council and designs in the London Borough of Islington. We have gained a good understanding of Islington Planning Department’s changing policies and by keeping up with relevant planning and conservation legislation changes, our Islington architects have retained a high rate of approvals.

The projects carried out by our Islington architects have included extensions and retail applications in conservation areas so if you are looking at Islington architects or practices, we can advise you of the conditions and size requirements for flat conversions, HMOs or new properties. Before you carry out Islington planning applications, speak to our planning team who can explain things like Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), and whether it would apply to your application or not.

Planning architectural practice in Islington

Extension Architecture provides a full range of services in the Islington area; including:

We provide a full range of services with regards to all manner of planning permission and drawing types in the Redbridge area, including:

• Planning Application Drawings (including Plans, Sections, Elevations etc.)
• Retrospective Planning
• Building Regulation Drawings for Building Control in Hammersmith and Fulham
• Consultancy for Commercial Development
• 3D Visualisations (Immersive Design)
• Interior Design
• Spatial Planning and Layout
• Feasibility Consultancy