2 ROYAL CRESCENT, LONDON W11 4SL
PLANNING APPLICATION FOR NEW TANK HOUSING ON ROOF
DESIGN & ACCESS, PLANNING & HERITAGE STATEMENT
Further to the issue of an enforcement notice the application is for a new tank housing on the
roof to match in with the lead features of the existing roof.
The applicant is proposing to remove the tanks currently located on the front part of the roof.
A new housing round new tanks is to be formed at the rear of the roof beside the rear chimney
stack. The tank housing will be formed as a timber construction finished with code 4 lead sheet
with welted joints. It will be insulated to protect the water from freezing.
The works arise from a condition of poor water pressure in the area as a result of which the
upper floor washrooms have barely any water flow.
Heritage context
The property is part of Royal Crescent fronting onto the common quadrant gardens facing
onto Holland Park Avenue. The Crescent comprises two groups of properties separated by St
Anns Villas on the North side of Holland Park Avenue and no 2 lies at the eastern end just in
from the junction with Holland Park Avenue.
The applicant appreciates the concerns expressed by the Enforcement notice and this proposal
addresses those concerns by removing the tanks and relocating them in a less conspicuous
location and in an appropriate housing.
Context
The property is part of the quadrant of the listed properties of Royal Crescent and lies in a
residential area. The top floors of the property are bedrooms with washrooms; the water
pressure here is very poor and the tanks are needed to provide necessary pressure for the
water to operate a shower and basins.
Use
The housing will cover the cold water tanks serving the upper floors.
Amount
The new housing will be as small as possible to cover the three tanks.
Layout
The new housing is to be located at the rear of the roof in order to diminish its impact from the
road or the central gardens of Royal Crescent.
Access & inclusion
The lead covering to the new housing will provide a better and more suitable finish than
painted timber and will match the lead of the front mansard and dormers.
Scale
The new housing has been designed to reduce its impact on the property; the location will also
reduce the impact of the structure on the existing property and on views from even some
distance away.
Appearance
The housing will be finished with code 4 lead sheet with welted joints.
Climate change
The new leadwork can be recycled and will not require maintenance besides occasional
cleaning.
Maintenance & Management
The external material – lead - proposed is hardwearing and robust and will require only minor
regular maintenance.
DRAWINGS SUBMITTED :
3131 /2RCr/ 01 : Site location plan
3131 /2RCr/ PA11 : Front elevation
3131 /2RCr/ PA12 : Roof plan and section through roof
Photographs submitted : 1, 2, 3
The photos 1 and 2 show the effect of the present location of the tanks on the roof and show
that once the housing is located at the rear of the roof it will not be visible from the street nor
have the same effect on the roof line.
The photos 3 show other tank housings on neighbouring properties and illustrate the effect of
larger, more bulky and dark painted timber housings.
The present position of the tanks are visible both from the Crescent and from the other side of
Holland Park Avenue and by relocating the tanks at the rear of the roof the housing will not be
visible from either roads and much less visible from the Crescent gardens.
The new tank housing proposed as a low structure finished in lead sheet is designed in
materials sympathetic to the nature, age and history of the property, respecting the character
of the listed property.
16 May 2012 : ARP Architects
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