A garage located on in a brownfield area with a size of just a 67m2 is being turned into a home in East London.
The planned home in Walthamstow has been designed to limit the impact to neighbouring homes and improve the look of the area by replacing the dilapidated garage with a design, which is in-keeping with the area.
Planning was approved by Walthamstow Forest Council, even though homes of this size, when in proximity to other homes, are normally not givenplanning permission, but the council worked with the architects to approve the designs.
Tiny garage is too small for many modern cars
The current site for the home includes just a single-storey garage and an 11m2 garden owned by the main property owners.
The existing garage is in disrepair and has become disconnected from the main property, whilst also sitting adjacent to Victorian double-fronted terrace properties.
This is when the developers had the idea to make a home via agarage conversion.
House design is small but blends in on the street
To replace the disused garage a compact two-storey dwelling was proposed, designed to limit the impact on the existing street's image.
The designs feature a bay window and the classic Victorian sash proportions, while maintaining similar designs to that of the area's Victorian brick build homes.
The first floor design is a compact form that wraps around the roof and main staircase, forming the "upper block" characterised by modern slab tiles. This upper block will be elevated by a brick plinth.
The external form of the building has been developed with a daylight/sunlight consultant to help minimise the impact on neighbouring residents.
Practice director Chris Hawkins said: "The result is a small, compact and playful dwelling design, minutes from the main transport hubs of E17. Careful consideration over natural daylighting and internal ceiling heights was given in respect of creating a balance of flow and connection to the smaller external areas."
Planning approved, despite unusually small design
Waltham Forest Council gavepre-consultation advicefor the site due to the peculiarly small site.
Councils will rarely grant planning applications for such small house designs, however, flexibility was given to this home regarding the amenity standards (the requirements and facilities that are needed for a housing in multiple occupation) and allowed the home to require "less stringent provisions" than usual.
The council also endorsed the development's concept for a small site, aligning it with London plan policies for high-quality design, street-facing infill, and zero parking homes.
Approval was also granted as the plans aligned with the borough's overall demand for smaller dwellings and the potential to utilise underused brownfield sites, which is also being encouraged by the government as part of their'10 Principles' to tackle the housing crisis.
The council approved the designs, which were designed byForgeworks, earlier this year with work set to start in early 2024.
