A new \u2018subterranean squad\u2019 of basement nuisance busters launched on 1 September in Westminster, the first of its kind in the country.<\/p>\n
The noise, dust and traffic impacts of basement development have had a big effect on local residents, who will now have a group of dedicated council officers to contact.\u00a0 This innovative new service will be funded by a levy on those building new basements, ensuring the resources are in place to actively monitor and enforce against un-neighbourly builders.<\/p>\n
That levy is being drawn as part of the council\u2019s new Code of Construction Practice, which clearly sets out best practice for building sites such as basements. The code will also be rolled out over the coming months to cover larger developments in the city.<\/p>\n
Cllr Robert Davis, MBE DL, Westminster City Council Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for the Built Environment, said: \u2018We are sticking up for local residents, many of whom have found the explosion of basement development in recent years hellish.\u00a0 It is right that those who want to build basements should contribute to this new service, which will work to help mitigate the negative impacts.\u00a0 Westminster City Council supports the right kind of growth and is not against all basement development, but they must be carried out in a way that is considerate to local residents and the environment.\u2019<\/p>\n
Over the last 5 years Westminster City Council has received on average 150 applications each year and has seen a trend towards more \u2018iceberg\u2019 basements where homeowners dig down two or more storeys.<\/p>\n
New rules include planning controls limiting basements to a single storey and no more than 50% of total garden land.<\/p>\n
The new \u2018subterranean squad\u2019 will:<\/p>\n
As a final resort Westminster City Council could use its powers relating to the duty to keep traffic flowing on the highway, for example\u00a0by limiting the number of\u00a0licences\u00a0on a street at any one time.<\/p>\n
A residential basement scheme will cost around \u00a38,000 on average; tthe new charges will cover the cost of delivery of the service based on hourly rates.\u00a0 The largest developments will be charged around \u00a330,000.<\/p>\n
The new powers will only apply to basements which gained planning permission from August 2016 onward, and other major development schemes from September.<\/p>\n
View the press release<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Westminster Council has introduced new powers which are designed to address issues faced by neighbours in areas where basements are being constructed, including a new basement levy and a dedicated \u2018subterranean squad\u2019 as part of revisions to the Westminster Code … Continue reading