Planning application · Southwark
26/AP/0334.
20 And 22 Longley Street London Southwark SE1 5QQ
Full / Other Planning at 20 And 22 Longley Street London Southwark SE1 5QQ, received 4 Feb 2026 — refused on 4 Jun 2026 by committee.
ApprovedRefusedOther
At a glance · this applicationSouthwark profile →
Refused
Outcome
4 Jun 2026
17 wks
Decision time
9 wks over the 8-week target
—
Conditions
not captured
34
Documents
34 linked
2
Objections
0 in support
No
Appeal
none recorded
Record from the Southwark planning register as captured; documents link to the council's own files. Nearby applications are context, not part of this application.
Application
What is it?
Amalgamation of two self-contained three-bedroom residential dwellings (Class C3) to form a single five-bedroom residential dwelling (Class C3), erection of ground floor extension, and installation of new windows and doors to the rear elevation. Installation of new metal railings to front garden and installation of conservation style roof light to roof.
Reference
26/AP/0334
Type
Minor application
Applicant
Agent / consultant
Case officer
Postcode
SE1 5QQ
Ward
Council
Received
4 Feb 2026
Validated
5 Feb 2026
Target date
1 Apr 2026
Decision date
4 Jun 2026
Decision route
Planning committee
Status
Awaiting decision
Council register
Reference
26/AP/0334
Type
Minor application
Show all 16 rows
Applicant
Agent / consultant
Case officer
Postcode
SE1 5QQ
Ward
Council
Received
4 Feb 2026
Validated
5 Feb 2026
Target date
1 Apr 2026
Decision date
4 Jun 2026
Decision route
Planning committee
Status
Awaiting decision
Council register
Documents
What was filed?
Document
Published
View
Show all 10 rows
Documents open on the Southwark portal (the portal needs its documents tab opened first — the link handles that). View the application page ↗
Decision
What happened?
Refused on 4 Jun 2026, determined by the planning committee — 17 weeks from submission (9 over the 8-week target).
Timeline
Date
Event
4 Feb 2026
Application received
5 Feb 2026
Application validated
1 Apr 2026
Statutory target date
4 Jun 2026
Committee decision: Refused
4 Feb 2026
Application received
5 Feb 2026
Application validated
1 Apr 2026
Statutory target date
Show all 4 rows
4 Jun 2026
Committee decision: Refused
Why it was refused
Reason
As stated on the decision notice
1
The proposed amalgamation of two self-contained three-bedroom
residential dwellings (Class C3) into a single five-bedroom dwellinghouse
would result in the net loss of one residential unit, including the loss of an
existing family-sized dwelling. Insufficient justification has been provided to
demonstrate that the existing residential units are of an unsatisfactory
standard of accommodation and incapable of improvement, nor that the
benefits of the proposal would outweigh the harm arising from the loss of
an existing dwelling. As such, the proposal would fail to protect the
borough's housing stock and would undermine the supply of family-sized
accommodation within the borough. The proposal is therefore contrary to
Chapter 5 (Delivering a sufficient supply of homes) of the National
Planning Policy Framework (2024) and Policy P3 (Protection of existing
homes) of the Southwark Plan (2022).
2
The proposed rear extension, by reason of its excessive depth, height,
scale, bulk and lack of a coherent and uniform design would constitute an
overdevelopment of the site that would fail to respect the established
character, proportions and rear townscape of the host properties and
surrounding Victorian terrace. The proposal would not appear subservient
to the host properties and would fail to preserve or enhance the character
and appearance of the Thorburn Square Conservation Area, including
views from the compounds of the nearby locally listed building.
Furthermore, the proposed rear window arrangement would detract from
the coherence and uniformity of the rear elevation. The proposal is
therefore contrary to Chapters 12 (Achieving well-designed places) and
Chapter 16 (Conserving and enhancing the historic environment) of the
National Planning Policy Framework (2024), Policies D4 (Delivering good
design) and HC1 (Heritage conservation and growth) of the London Plan
(2021), and Policies P13 (Design of places), P14 (Design quality), P20
(Conservation areas), P21 (Conservation of the historic environment and
natural heritage) and P26 (Local list) of the Southwark Plan (2022).
southwark.gov.uk 2 Southwark Council,
www.southwark.gov.uk/followus London SE1P 5LX
3
The proposed rear extension, by reason of its excessive height and depth
along the shared boundaries, would result in an overbearing form of
development that would create an unacceptable sense of enclosure and
lead to a harmful reduction in daylight and sunlight to neighbouring
occupiers, particularly affecting the ground floor rear-facing windows and
associated outdoor amenity areas at Nos. 18 and 24 Longley Street. The
proposal is therefore contrary to Policy P56 (Protection of amenity) of the
Southwark Plan 2022.
1
The proposed amalgamation of two self-contained three-bedroom
residential dwellings (Class C3) into a single five-bedroom dwellinghouse
would result in the net loss of one residential unit, including the loss of an
existing family-sized dwelling. Insufficient justification has been provided to
demonstrate that the existing residential units are of an unsatisfactory
standard of accommodation and incapable of improvement, nor that the
benefits of the proposal would outweigh the harm arising from the loss of
an existing dwelling. As such, the proposal would fail to protect the
borough's housing stock and would undermine the supply of family-sized
accommodation within the borough. The proposal is therefore contrary to
Chapter 5 (Delivering a sufficient supply of homes) of the National
Planning Policy Framework (2024) and Policy P3 (Protection of existing
homes) of the Southwark Plan (2022).
2
The proposed rear extension, by reason of its excessive depth, height,
scale, bulk and lack of a coherent and uniform design would constitute an
overdevelopment of the site that would fail to respect the established
character, proportions and rear townscape of the host properties and
surrounding Victorian terrace. The proposal would not appear subservient
to the host properties and would fail to preserve or enhance the character
and appearance of the Thorburn Square Conservation Area, including
views from the compounds of the nearby locally listed building.
Furthermore, the proposed rear window arrangement would detract from
the coherence and uniformity of the rear elevation. The proposal is
therefore contrary to Chapters 12 (Achieving well-designed places) and
Chapter 16 (Conserving and enhancing the historic environment) of the
National Planning Policy Framework (2024), Policies D4 (Delivering good
design) and HC1 (Heritage conservation and growth) of the London Plan
(2021), and Policies P13 (Design of places), P14 (Design quality), P20
(Conservation areas), P21 (Conservation of the historic environment and
natural heritage) and P26 (Local list) of the Southwark Plan (2022).
southwark.gov.uk 2 Southwark Council,
www.southwark.gov.uk/followus London SE1P 5LX
3
The proposed rear extension, by reason of its excessive height and depth
along the shared boundaries, would result in an overbearing form of
development that would create an unacceptable sense of enclosure and
lead to a harmful reduction in daylight and sunlight to neighbouring
occupiers, particularly affecting the ground floor rear-facing windows and
associated outdoor amenity areas at Nos. 18 and 24 Longley Street. The
proposal is therefore contrary to Policy P56 (Protection of amenity) of the
Southwark Plan 2022.
Policies cited
NPPF
Public response
Measure
Count
Objections
2
In support
0
Total comments
2
Objections
2
In support
0
Total comments
2
People
Who is involved?
Name
Role
Applicant — the party who applied, not necessarily the owner
Agent · consultant profile
Case officer (report to committee)
Determined at committee
Applicant — the party who applied, not necessarily the owner
Agent · consultant profile
Case officer (report to committee)
Show all 4 rows
Determined at committee
Place
What affects it?
Context around the site — not part of this application. Designations over the site: use the map's designations filter (conservation areas, listed buildings, Article 4, flood risk …). Decisions within 250 metres of the site are listed below — context, not this application.
Other applications within 250 metres (context — nearby, not this application)
No other geocoded decision is recorded within 250 metres.