Planning approval awarded for the full basement excavation beneath a high flood risk property within Putney Embankment Conservation Area, Wandsworth

Alex Tart Architects have secured planning permission for a full basement excavation of a property within flood risk zone 3.  The property is situated within Putney Embankment Conservation Area, and fronts the River Thames. The approval accompanies a comprehensive refurbishment of the end of terrace home, with a number of new windows improving the quality of light and revitalising the upper floors.

The approval followed on from a successful pre-application process. This enabled us to open a constructive dialogue with the planning authority, pushing the boundary of the proposed lightwell beyond the remit that policy would typically dictate, facilitating a light filled basement design.

The basement itself was an ambitious proposal. With the property positioned on the Putney Embankment, the lower areas of the property are frequently flooded. Careful consideration was required to ensure the basement would be unimpaired by the water levels. Alex Tart Architects worked alongside Civil Engineers, to ensure that the property was adequately safeguarded against flooding, whilst maintaining the integrity of the Thames Barrier. Constructing basements in areas protected by the flood barrier is a matter of balancing the project’s requirements with a need to create physical water barriers in response to the anticipated water levels.