We, the undersigned, are residents of Hillingdon and are writing to formally object to the proposed planning application 79535/APP/2025/2126 for a loft conversion at 74 St Georges Drive, Ickenham. We believe this development, as currently proposed, will have a significantly negative impact on our homes and the surrounding neighbourhood.

 

 

 

Our key concerns are:

• Overshadowing and Loss of Natural Light: The large scale of the proposed loft conversion will block sunlight and significantly reduce the amount of natural light to five neighbouring properties, especially those on Copthall Road West. This will make our homes darker and less pleasant to live in. The difference in ground levels with the bungalow being much higher makes this even worse. There has been no consideration to the path of the sun and measurement of the reduction in natural light this proposal will have on the neighbouring properties. 

•           Loss of Privacy: The windows at the rear of the proposed loft conversion will allow direct views into all the rear windows of numbers 83 & 85 Copthall Road West, severely impacting our privacy. No consideration has been given to the angle of the bungalow in relation to numbers 83 & 85 and we will no longer be able to enjoy our gardens or use the rooms at the rear of our properties without being overlooked. The distance between the windows of the bungalow and number 85 Copthall Road West will be approximately 11m. Numbers 87 & 89 Copthall Road West and number 72 St Georges Drive will also lose privacy if the side windows have openings as they will look directly into bedrooms, bathrooms and gardens. As the ground level of the bungalow is approximately 18" higher this will have a greater impact. 

 

•           Out of Character with the Area: The proposed design is too large and bulky and does not fit in with the existing character of our neighbourhood. For some homes, like 87 Copthall Road West, the bulky dormer roof box woukd be all they can see from their garden and be less an 1m from their boundary. 

 

•           Potential for Overdevelopment (HMO): We are concerned that the latest design suggests the applicant may intend to maximise the number of bedrooms in the property and convert the property into a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) in the future. This would lead to increased noise, traffic, parking problems, and a general decline in the quality of life on our estate.

 

•           Lack of Consideration: We feel the planning application does not adequately consider the impact on existing residents and their homes.

We request that common sense prevails, and the application be refused as we believe this development violates Hillingdon Council's own planning policies, specifically:

•           DMH 6: Which aims to protect residents from loss of light and privacy.

•           DMT 6: Which aims to ensure new developments are in keeping with the character of the area

 

OUR DESIRED OUTCOME: 

We respectfully request that Hillingdon Council carefully consider the following desired outcomes and specific concerns when evaluating planning application 79535/APP/2025/2126. We believe that the proposed development, as currently designed, fails to adequately address these issues and will have a detrimental impact on the amenity of neighbouring properties.

 

 1. Protection of Natural Light: We seek assurance that the proposed development will result in zero reduction in natural light reaching neighbouring properties on Copthall Road West and St Georges Drive. This is of particular importance to the residents of 87 and 89 Copthall Road West, with 87 Copthall Road West having a legally recognized right to light specified in their property deeds. The application must demonstrate, through a detailed sunlight/daylight assessment, that the proposed development will not infringe upon this right or unacceptably diminish the light enjoyed by the other neighbouring properties.

 

2. Preservation of Privacy: We insist on the preservation of privacy for all neighbouring properties on Copthall Road West and St Georges Drive, with particular attention to 83 and 85 Copthall Road West. The revised design, featuring two windows in the rear of the loft conversion, raises serious concerns about direct overlooking into the rear rooms and gardens of these properties. Given the angle of 74 St Georges Drive in relation to these properties and the difference in ground height, these windows will provide unobstructed views straight into private living spaces. The application must include detailed plans and elevations demonstrating how privacy will be protected, potentially through the use of obscure glazing and non opening windows.

 

3. Justification for Design Changes and Concerns Regarding Future Use: We require a clear and transparent explanation from the applicant regarding the rationale for the design changes, specifically the addition of a second window to the rear of the loft conversion. We are concerned that this modification may indicate an intention to create three small bedrooms within the loft space, potentially leading to a future change of use to a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO). Such a development would be entirely out of character with the area and would have a significant and detrimental impact on the amenity of neighboring residents. We request that the Council investigate this possibility and ensure that any approval includes conditions preventing the future conversion of the property into an HMO without further planning permission.

 

4. Request for Article 4 Direction to Prevent Further Uncontrolled Development: To prevent further uncontrolled development that could negatively impact neighboring properties, we formally request that the Council implement an Article 4 direction removing permitted development rights for 74 St Georges Drive. Our concern is that future development, such as the conversion of the garage into a bedroom or the construction of outbuildings in the garden, could further obstruct light and negatively impact the amenity of 81 and 81A Copthall Road West. An Article 4 direction would ensure that any future alterations are subject to full planning scrutiny and allow the Council to protect the interests of neighbouring residents.

 

5. Incompatibility with Existing Character and Permitted Development Regulations: The proposed conversion of the entire roof into a large dormer is fundamentally incompatible with the existing character of the bungalows on our  estate and sets an undesirable precedent for similar developments. We believe that such a radical alteration is not permitted under existing permitted development regulations and request that the Council verify the legality of the proposed design in this regard.

6. Reversal of Initial Approval and Thorough Re-Evaluation: We request that the Council reverse its initial decision to approve the loft conversion, which was made without any consultation with neighbouring residents, a thorough assessment of the impact on neighbouring properties, or a full measurement of the pre-existing development of the property. We believe that a complete and totally transparent re-evaluation of the application by the Hillingdon Planning Department is necessary to ensure that all relevant planning considerations are properly addressed.

7. Suspension of Work Pending Resolution: We request that all further work on the property be suspended until this matter is fully resolved and all concerns raised by neighbouring residents have been adequately addressed. Continuing work while these issues remain outstanding would be prejudicial to the interests of the neighboring residents and could result in irreversible harm to their amenity.

 

• We respectfully request that Hillingdon Council prioritize the well-being of its existing residents and the preservation of the character of our neighborhood by refusing planning application 79535/APP/2025/2126. The proposed development, and the manner in which this application has been managed, have caused undue stress and anxiety. We urge the Council to rectify this situation by rejecting the application and ensuring that future planning decisions are made with greater consideration for the impact on neighbouring properties and the views of long-term residents.