1 Aldensley Road (opposite Tool Chest).
The 2 September Newsletter reported that in July the owner had submitted a planning application to regularise the unauthorised building works that have been carried out at 1 Aldensley Road . However only a fraction of the unauthorised work was included in the application, so after further pressure from LBHF, the building owners are to submit a new, comprehensive planning application, which is expected by the end of October. This would be a step forward – but it’s a long path ahead , and if remedial work is ever going to take place, it’s unlikely to happen before late 2027 at the earliest.
BRA estimate of non-compliant works based on observation from the street but without access to the interior:
External elevations
1 Brickwork generally:
Planning requirement: external brickwork to match the existing weathered London stock brick.
As built without planning consent:all of the external brickwork, new and existing, has been overpainted with a dark red paint, creating a bland, featureless surface wholly out-of-keeping with the subtle mixtures of burnt clay tones of the London stock brick of the original building and found throughout Brackenbury, and wholly failing to match the existing brickwork..
2 East elevation (to Iffley Road) – rectangular block adjacent to the playing fields:
Planning consent: small full height extension of the block and lowering the cill of the ground floor window to form a door opening .
As built without planning consent: the external walls have been raised and now accommodate a new roof terrace allowing recreational use with views over playing fields and neighbouring gardens. The decorative projecting brick panel around the ground floor window has been demolished and reconstructed to a reduced height without the rich traditional details, losing a delightful and prominent architectural idiosyncrasy. First floor window demolished without consent and replaced by a smaller, wrongly placed window without traditional details including expressed decorative lintel.
3 South Elevation facing playing fields:
Every aspect of the scheme as built disregards the consented scheme design which indicated a set of traditional sliding sash windows in a standard symmetrical layout. The elevation now incorporates at ground level large patio doors and a large modern window, and, at first floor, non-traditional diminutive domestic windows, with a large metal window on the west side overlooking the playing fields; and raised parapet level to accommodate the new roof terrace.
4. Shopfronts: the consented scheme retains the shop windows with the introduction of vertical glazing bars, with traditional panel door replacing the shop entrance door. In the scheme as-built: the shop windows have been removed, window openings reduced in size and fitted with standard domestic windows with upper vents. On the splay elevation, a domestic window frame with lower head replaces the entrance door of the consented scheme.
5 Wall on pavement boundary (the sole subject of the current planning application): see BRA letter dated16.8.26.
6. Building use
The consented scheme retains shop use for the front part of the ground floor, complete with retained shop windows and splay entrance door.
The as-built scheme is fitted out for residential use throughout, including all of the ground floor, with the removal of the shop windows and the splay entrance door.