• CAMDEN’S planning department has recently approved a number of applications for house/ flat extensions in West Hampstead.

While I am not a planning expert and understand the planners have to work according to law, these extensions, if built, will remove large chunks of gardens, plonk often sizeable buildings down instead, lead to the removal of trees (sometimes unintentionally, because the work damages the root systems) and generally change the character of our late Victorian neighbourhood.

I have been told that my downstairs neighbour’s extension won’t affect “outlook” (that is, views from my and my neighbours’ windows) because it only covers up a surfaced terrace and one metre of garden. What would you rather look at: a terrace and green space or a roof?

I have also been told the plans, which include a stand-alone office and storage space at the back of the garden, will not affect protected trees. Maybe not, but what about the amenity of trees in general? They are necessary to maintain biodiversity and their removal definitely affects our “outlook”.

The proposed “reflection pool” will be “self-maintaining”. No man-made water feature is ever self-maintaining and I look forward to calling the planning department when this one (if built) becomes stagnant and full of insects, or worse – or floods and affects the rest of the property.

If all the approved extensions go ahead, it will undoubtedly trigger further applications; indeed I have heard of more neighbours considering adding an extension.

If they are all built, we would end up with a loss of “outlook” along our street and the one behind ours; a loss of water run-off; a loss of trees; and a destruction of our peace and quiet. And all for the sake of people turning a fast buck, since I am sure few of the applicants for these extensions plan to live in them.

Objectors have no recourse to appeal – that is reserved for applicants who are turned down. Who is going to compensate us for the loss in value of our properties which sit above and/or overlook the extensions?

MARCIA MacLEOD
NW6