128 Road E1 1JE

Application for the use of the 5th floor loft as ancillary to the existing 4th floor studio workspace including proposed rooflights.

Lawful Development Certificate - Supporting Statement: 17th March 2021

For and on behalf of: Dalip Boora and Sahira Boora

Project Ref: VINE110

Document Ref: VINE110/CLD CONTENTS

1.1 Introduction

1.2 Site Location & Building

1.3 Planning Policy / Feedback

1.4 Existing Use

1.5 Proposed Use

1.6 Design

1.7 Sustainability

APPENDIX

Site Photos

1.1 Introduction

This supporting statement has been prepared by Vine Architecture Studio on behalf of our client, Mr. Dalip Boora and Miss Sahira Boora. The associated application is a Certificate of Lawful Development Application relating to our proposals in providing ancillary office / overnight space in the 5th floor (currently storage) supporting the current 4th floor studio workspace. We are also including proposed roof-lights.

This application can be read alongside our separate full planning application for the removal / replacement of windows to the same property - alterations which require planning permission.

1.2 Site Location & Building

The property is an existing 5/6 storey building (6th storey / 5th floor is loft space) located at 128 Whitechapel Road in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. The street fronting elevation consists of red brick construction with portland stone decoration (banding and ornament around the windows). The building reads as a pair (with 130 Whitechapel Road) characterised by their gabled roof-line. The windows are large in proportion with the 5th / 6th storey window being an arched steel framed crittal design with two smaller flanking windows of the same style. There is an unoriginal suspended floor which unsympathetically intersects the existing arched window between the 5th and 6th storeys. We are proposing to remove the front bay of this floor / ceiling so the full window can be appreciated as it historically would have been (please see our associated drawings).

The rear of the building has none of the ornament and features of the front facade and is characterised by an unoriginal closet wing extension with small windows and white painted render. There is a galvanised steel walkway linking 128 & 130 Whitechapel Road.

Aerial site view 128 Whitechapel Road 1.3 Planning Policy / Feedback

The site is situated in the Whitechapel Market Conservation Area and is not nationally or locally listed. It is also located in the City Fringe Activity Area, is a Local Employment Location and has an Article 4 Direction removing the permitted development right for changes from offices (B1(a) use class) to residential (C3 use class).

As the architects, we were guided towards and therefore sought initial pre-planning advice via the Planning Advice Form service. We were advised that the ancillary function of the loft space to the existing studio workspace and roof- lights would both fall under permitted development rights. We have therefore split our proposals - one certificate of lawful development and one full planning application for the alterations / replacement to the external windows / door (submitted concurrently).

We have endeavoured to propose alterations which are of high quality, complementary to the original building and that responds to the relevant planning policies. To inform our proposals we have referred to the Whitechapel Market Conservation Area Character Appraisal and Management Guidelines and as well as GPDO legislation. The intention of the design is to preserve/enhance the existing character of the property.

1.4 Existing Use

The unit is a studio workspace and office - use class E(c)(iii). The applicant Sahira Boora is a fashion designer and costume maker and she uses the unit as for designing and making costumes for large film makers and production companies. It is located on the 4th floor with an underused loft storage space above on the 5th floor which benefits from generous floor to ceiling heights.

The existing floor area is 62sqm in the 4th floor unit with 20.5sqm of 5th floor loft storage space.

Front and rear photos 1.5 Proposed Use

Our proposals seeks to make use of the underused loft space by providing access up to it via a new stair allowing it to be used for the ancillary function of additional office space and sleeping space when needed to enable and supplement the existing studio use.

As described in our Planning Advise Form, the unit is used by Sahira Boora who is a fashion and costume designer and maker. When in London she lives primarily in in Epping Forest and works in the unit at 128 Whitechapel Road. Because of her job she is mostly abroad or travelling to be on set and spends approximately 4 months of the year in London. The pandemic has meant that she has been unable to travel but she expects work and travel to return. The current 4th floor is her studio with the underused storage space above. Being able to use the 5th floor loft space as an office and, on occasion, a sleeping space for over-night stays will facilitate and sit alongside her work and the 4th floor workspace. The 4th floor will still be used as her studio workspace and it is intended that, where / if she does stay overnight on the 5th floor, it will only be on occasion as it will not be her main residence. Furthermore, in usual circumstances, Sahira is mostly abroad or travelling to be on set and spends approximately 4 months of the year in London.

The proposed floor area is 78.5sqm (including the 5th floor ancillary office / sleeping space). There will therefore be a net gain of ancillary commercial space which we believe would be welcome in the area given it’s designation and sustainable location.

1.6 Design

The original building design in relation to the fourth floor would have had exposed roof trusses so most (or at least part of it) was double height which is evident from the striking large arched crittal window fronting Whitechapel Road. This window has at some point been divided internally through the additional of a floor which intersects it at ceiling level (please see the existing photos). Our proposals looks to recapture the importance of the window through removing the loft floor between the front wall and first truss of the bay adjacent to it thus allowing the full window to be viewed in its entirely.

A new staircase will be provided up to the new 5th floor gallery space making it an accessible extension to the studio. We propose new low profile rooflights in the existing roof to improve the usability of the space by providing additional natural light and natural ventilation. The rooflights will not project further than 150mm above the existing roof slope and the two openable rooflights are 1.7m above the finished floor level of the space.

1.7 Sustainability

There is currently no insulation in the roof and the front windows / glazing is single glazed. We propose to substantially insulate the roof and provide double glazed units (covered in the associated full planning application). This will hugely improve the energy efficiency of the building envelope.

Additionally to this, our proposals make use of existing space in a sustainable location. With this very little new material would be required in the construction as well as shorter travel distances therefore there would be very little embodied carbon associated with the works. APPENDIX - SITE PHOTOGRAPHS

4th Floor Studio - Note how the ceiling intersects with the large arched window

4th Floor Studio - Looking north towards Whitechapel Road 4th Floor Stairwell

4th Floor Studio - Looking south 5th Floor Loft - Looking north towards Whitechapel Road

5th Floor Loft - Looking south Document Details

Revision Date Description Edited by Checked by

* 17.03.2021 Certificate of Lawful Sara Perera-Hammond Rory Pennant-Rea Development

Project Number 110

Project Name 128 Whitechapel Road

Architectural Assistant Sara Perera-Hammond

Director Rory Pennant-Rea

1st Floor 132 Whitechapel Road London E1 1JE

t +44 (0)207 377 5465 e [email protected] w www.vinearchitecture.com