St Johns Wood Basement Excavations

St John’s Wood is well known for its grand villas and impressive architecture, reports the Ham and High.

But a trend for homeowners to enlarge their properties by expanding beneath them has seen the usually tranquil neighbourhood become increasingly blighted for many residents.

In the past year alone, the St John’s Wood Society has been asked to review 86 basement applications including 13 in one road – Hamilton Terrace.

Other streets have been affected almost as severely with nine basement applications in Acacia Road and seven in Carlton Hill.

Such is the extent of the problem that last week saw North Westminster MP Karen Buck lead a parliamentary debate on the issue in the House of Commons.

Speaking during the debate, Ms Buck said it was only when she looked at one of the larger basements in St John’s Wood last month that “it really came home to me just what an extraordinary change we are seeing”.

Calling for tighter regulations, Ms Buck says she has an issue with basement developments that “stretch not just under the footprint of the house” but “through an entire garden” to provide luxuries such as underground cinemas, swimming pools, gymnasiums and gun rooms.

A Westminster Council spokesman said all basement developments must comply with planning legislation and council guidelines.

“While such development is often largely concealed from public view, it is important that it is carefully designed to ensure it causes no harm to the amenity of adjoining occupiers, to biodiversity, heritage assets or the character of the area and that it does not result in drainage, flooding or structural problems.”