Wandsworth Council's Planning Applications Committee has approved plans for a basement and extension at 2 Worcester Gardens, SW11 6LR. The decision, made on Thursday, 17 September 2026, allows for a series of alterations to the property, including a roof extension, an extension to the three-storey back addition, the formation of a roof terrace, a replacement rear dormer, a single-storey rear extension, and the excavation for a basement.
The basement at 2 Worcester Gardens would extend under the property by 11.8m, including the rear lightwell, which measures 1.5m deep and 2.9m wide. Concerns were raised by neighbours regarding structural integrity and the risk of subsidence due to the basement excavation. However, council officers noted that matters relating to subsidence and structural stability are regulated under building control measures.
Neighbours had also raised objections concerning loss of privacy, construction disruption, loss of light, and the development being disproportionate. In response to concerns about construction disruption, officers noted that a Construction Management Plan (CMP) was not considered necessary for these works, as it was not required under a previous permission for a larger basement proposal.
Regarding privacy, specific glazing requirements have been attached to the approval. The windows in the western side elevation at first-floor level of the development will be obscure-glazed and non-opening, unless the opening parts are more than 1.7 metres above the floor. Additionally, two large windows facing the terrace on the south-eastern corner of the building will be obscurely glazed to prevent views to the rear. The proposed doors and windows are not expected to result in any increases in overlooking above the current situation.
Council officers concluded that the proposed works would preserve the character and appearance of the Clapham Common Conservation Area and would not cause unacceptable harm to the amenities of neighbouring properties. While neighbours raised concerns about loss of light, reports indicated that the proposed roof extension would not project beyond the rear elevation and would be modest in scale, thus not harming daylight/sunlight or outlook. The three-storey extension was also deemed not to materially harm the daylight/sunlight or outlook of the neighbouring property at No. 1. Similarly, the single-storey rear extension is not considered to impinge on access to daylight/sunlight to an unacceptable degree.
Conditions attached to the approval stipulate that all external materials used in the construction of the development must match the type, texture, tone, colour, size, and profile of those used on the existing building and shall be retained permanently. For the rear lightwell grille, flush-fitting metal will be used. For a two-storey side extension at 3 Southdean Gardens, materials specified include Yellow London stock brickwork to match existing
, Fibre-cement slate tiles
, Painted timber casement and sash windows
, Powder coated aluminum sliding doors to rear extensions
, and Glass balustrade
. The first-floor western side elevation windows at this address will be obscure glazed.
Further details on the planning application can be found in the Public reports pack for the Planning Applications Committee meeting on 17 September 2026.