Camden architects

Camden Architects

If you are seeking Camden architects for your house refurbishment or extension project, we’d be delighted to assist. Architecture for London is an RIBA Chartered Practice with several completed bespoke homes in the borough. For more information, see our recent planning approvals in Camden.

Our architects create beautifully crafted properties with a sustainable design approach. We work closely with our clients at each step of the project to ensure a truly collaborative process.

Discover Architecture for London’s residential portfolio. If you are looking for Camden architects and would like to discuss your project, please contact us.

A traditional Plain English kitchen in a London house interior — Our kitchen refurbishment at Gainsborough Gardens, Camden

At our house extension and refurbishment at Dartmouth Park, Camden, we designed a large kitchen and barbecue area. A snug at the rear of the house features a suspended stove. The snug is enclosed by a frameless glass box that gives extensive garden views. Large sliding glass fills the new kitchen with natural light.

In Hampstead Village, NW3 we have completed the refurbishment of a Grade 2 listed Georgian cottage, to create a characterful family home that balances period architecture with contemporary living.

In Fitzrovia, we built a house extension and refurbished a Grade 2 listed Georgian property, inserting a new master suite with a feature bath. A glazed study extension leads to a first-floor roof terrace to the rear of the house.

Dartmouth Park House, NW5

“We are simply thrilled with the outcome. AFL fully delivered on the brief and our home feels modern, while in keeping with the period building.” – Jackie & Adrian, Dartmouth Park

In our Kentish Town refurbishment, we converted the property from two flats to a single-family home, which required a precise understanding of Camden’s planning policy and permitted development rights.

Residential projects in Camden

With over 10 years of experience in the borough and the surrounding neighbourhoods, our architects have specialist knowledge of the local Camden Planning policy and the Camden planning team.

Our architects have significant experience throughout the Borough of Camden, particularly with the following residential projects:

Sustainability is a key consideration of all of our projects. We work with our clients on the design and material choices to consider the embodied energy and energy performance, while ensuring that our refurbishments maintain the characteristics of Camden’s heritage buildings.

Plain english kitchen extension — Our house extension on Tanza Road, Camden

Permitted Development rights in Camden

Permitted development rights allow many household improvements and extensions without the need for planning consent, for example: rear extensions, garden rooms and loft conversions. If you live in a freehold house, then you may have permitted development rights. It’s worth noting, however, that these rights don’t generally apply to flats or listed buildings.

Be aware of Article 4 Directions – these sometimes exist in conservation areas, and they can remove some or all permitted development rights. Camden publishes guidance for each conservation area that makes clear whether any permitted development rights are removed.

We would usually apply for a Lawful Development Certificate from Camden to confirm that the proposals are permitted development and therefore planning permission is not required.

Primrose Hill House, NW3

“From obtaining planning permission to helping me choose great contractors, AFL were brilliant throughout. They were a pleasure to work with!” – Fatos, Primrose Hill

Planning permission in Camden

If the works do not fall under permitted development or prior approval, it is likely they will require planning permission. Your architect will need to submit a planning application. This will include existing and proposed drawings along with any other supplementary documentation, as outlined on the Council’s website.

The Council recommends engaging with a qualified professional to prepare and submit your application. This should be done as early as possible in the design process.

As noted in Camden’s planning Guidance CPG1, in order to achieve high-quality design in the borough, architects in Camden must carefully consider buildings in terms of context, siting, detailing and materials. The local authority requires proposals to:

Provide visual interest from all aspects and distances. This will involve attention to both architectural form and detailing
Consider the extent to which developments may overlook the windows or private garden area of another property
Ensure buildings do not overshadow existing outdoor spaces
Materials should be selected carefully and should relate to the character and appearance of the area, particularly in conservation areas or within the setting of listed buildings

hampstead house rear extension with red brick and a natural stone lintel — Hampstead House rear extension

Building in conservation areas in Camden

Camden has a rich history and a varied built environment. As such, conservation is a very important aspect of Camden’s planning policy. To protect the unique character and charm of the borough’s neighbourhoods, 40 conservation areas span nearly 50% of the borough, as shown in the conservation area map below.

Conservation areas are not designated to stop all future development or change, but to ensure that change is managed to conserve the historic significance of the area as a whole.

Pre-app advice in Camden

Like most boroughs, Camden Council offers a pre-application service. This is an opportunity to discuss your proposed scheme and obtain written advice from a planning officer before submitting an application. We don’t always recommend this route, mostly due to the time scales involved. For simpler householder projects, proceeding straight to a full planning application is usually our recommended route. We find pre-apps to be more productive on larger schemes, for example, on new build houses and multi-unit residential and commercial developments.

Listed building consent architects in Camden

With a total area of just 21.76km², Camden is one of the smallest boroughs in London. Despite its small size, there are over 5600 listed buildings in Camden. Read more about listed building consent in London.

Our architects have significant experience working with listed buildings in Camden. Recent listed building consents include houses at Gainsborough Gardens NW3, Conway Street W1T, Downshire Hill NW3 and Albert Street NW1.

Any material works to a listed building will require listed building consent, whether the works are internal or external.

Gainsborough Gardens, NW3

Red brick victorian house London — Tanza Road house extension in a conservation area

Camden Architects: rear extensions

Camden has specific guidance on the design of rear extensions in their CPG1 planning guidance. The Council requires extensions to:

be secondary to the building being extended, in terms of location, form, scale, proportions, dimensions and detailing
respect and preserve the original design and proportions of the building, including its architectural style
respect and preserve existing architectural features, such as projecting bays, decorative balconies and chimney stacks
respect and preserve the historic pattern and townscape of the surrounding area
not cause a loss of amenity to adjacent properties. Particularly concerning sunlight, daylight, outlook, overshadowing, light pollution, privacy and sense of enclosure
allow for the retention of a reasonable-sized garden
retain the open character of the existing garden and the gardens of neighbouring properties

Camden architects: Conway Street, W1T

Basement extensions in Camden

Camden has specific guidance on the design of basements in their Camden Planning Guidance CPG: Basements.

Basement development must not cause harm to: neighbouring properties; the structural, ground, or water conditions of the area; or the architectural character and heritage significance of the area.
The siting, location, scale and design of basements must have minimal impact on the host building.
Basement development must be no more than one storey deep and must not exceed 50% of the garden.
Applicants will be required to submit information within a Basement Impact Assessment (BIA).
In some instances, the Council will require a Basement Construction Plan to be provided.
BIAs will require expert independent verification funded by the applicant.
An Article 4 Direction requiring planning consent for all basement development covers the whole of Camden.

A pantry and wine cellar in the basement of a london house with oak shelving — A wine cellar in the basement of our Hampstead House refurbishment

Camden’s existing built environment

The built environment in Camden is varied, as the borough spreads from Bloomsbury in the south, all the way north to Highgate Village. As it does so, the 18th-century urban squares of the great estates become the once rural medieval villages of Hampstead and Highgate, now enclosed by greater London. Along the way, the formal Victorian and Georgian squares and terraces dominate. There is also much notable mid-twentieth century modernist architecture and newer infill developments.

Project architects: Matt McKenna, Becky Wootton

Please visit the AFL residential projects page to view our completed architectural residential projects in Camden.