Planning Permission and Listed Building Consent have been granted for two-storey rear extensions to a Grade II listed property in South Kensington, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea

Nestled in the heart of South Kensington, this Grade II listed property is a fine example of London’s 19th-century terrace architecture, blending historical elegance with modern refinement. Situated within the Thurloe Estate and Smith’s Charity Conservation Area, it holds architectural and historical significance, contributing to the rich character of the area.

The project stands as a testament to how approvals can be obtained despite initial pushback from the council when approached strategically and with patience. The Grade II listed status of the property allowed the council to initially object in a highly subjective manner, relying on objections that would not have been applicable if the property were not a heritage asset

Following a pre-application response, in which the local authority indicated they would take a highly restrictive stance, Alex Tart Architects, assembled a specialist team, including structural engineers, planning experts, arboricultural specialists, and heritage consultants, to pre-emptively address potential objections and prepare for a possible appeal.

Rather than heavily revising the design after an initial refusal, we appealed our ambitious scheme, which included multiple extensions and a small basement excavation. The planning inspector ruled in our favour on the majority of design choices, allowing us to proceed with only a minor revision—removing the basement excavation in a subsequent application.

With the inspector’s support, the final scheme was approved in full, despite still retaining most of the design elements the local authority had originally objected to.