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Design and Access Statement

 Enlargement of existing cellar

Vine House
6 Hampstead Square
Hampstead Village
London
NW3 1AB

1. 		SITE

1.1.	Vine House is a three-storey residential dwelling on the northern edge of Hampstead Square. The building is Grade II listed and is a substantial dwelling house in yellow 		stock brick with red brick dressings.

1.2		The current cellar is used for storage and is of good ceiling height (between 1.7m and 1.9m) but in bad repair.

1.3		The application site is within the Hampstead Conservation Area. It is also within an Archaeological Priority Area.

2. 		THE PROPOSAL

2.1		The proposal is for the enlargement of the existing cellar to echo the footprint of the ground floor above.

2.2		The existing cellar has a footprint of approximately 28 square metres. The extended cellar would have a footprint of 155.3 square metres.   

2.3		This proposal seeks to use the existing internal entrance to the cellar and therefore not disrupt the ground floor layout.

3. HERITAGE & DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
	
3.1 	This proposal does not in any way alter the Queen Anne external elevation of the house.  The Heritage report confirms there the house derives the majority of its 		significance from the aesthetic values associated with its principal (front) elevation and this proposal would not alter this.

3.2		Although the proposed enlargement would have increased floorspace, it would sit within the footprint of the ground floor above. 		  
3.3		The proposed enlargement does not include any light wells or fire escapes to the exterior of the building and therefore aims to preserve the appearance of the Hampstead 		Conservation Area and also preserve the listed building in its setting.

3.4		The existing cellar walls have previously been altered to allow for pipework to service the house. 

3.5		This proposal seeks to use the existing internal entrance to the cellar to ensure the existing layout of the ground floor is maintained.

3.6		Having received the Heritage Report the proposed plans (included with the BIA) have been amended to take the report’s findings into account and the significant walls  		maintained. Please see the 	‘Amended proposed floorplan’.

3.5		The arboriculturist report states that there is no concern with any surrounding trees.  

4. IMPACT ON THE VISUAL AND RESIDENTIAL AMENITIES OF THE OCCUPIERS OF NEARBY AND NEIGHBOURING RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES

4.1		This proposal will have no effect on the amenities of the properties in close proximity as they are sufficiently removed from the application site.

4.2		As the proposal does not alter the exterior of the house in any way it will have no visual impact on neighboring properties.

5. 	TRANSPORT CONSIDERATIONS

5.1		The proposal would not create additional parking demand at the application site or in the wider area (a controlled parking zone CA-H) 

6.	CONCLUSION
		The Heritage Report states that the house derives the majority of its significance from the aesthetic values associated with its principal (front) elevation 		and this proposal would not be alter this or any other elevation.  In fact the proposal would not change, in any way, the external look of the house and would therefore have 		no impact on the appearance and character of the Hampstead Conservation area and other notable Grade II listed buildings in the vicinity. The proposal seeks to enlarge 		the basement to within the current ground floor plan and using the existing internal cellar entrance therefore maintaining the ground floor layout. This proposal has also 		taken into account the Heritage report and sought to maintain the current cellar walls where advised.  The impact on neighbouring properties is nil and so too are any 		transport implications for the neighbouring properties and local area.The works would also preserve the listed building and its setting.