_Location: Islington, London

_Sector: Residential / Heritage

_Client: DS Real Estate

_Work Produced For: Claridge Architects 

_Size: 1,577 sqm / 16,975 sqft

_Status: Planning Approved / Under construction

Turning a Constrained London Site into 19 Homes

"What can this site actually deliver?" This was the project’s main challenge.

87 Sunnyside Road was a highly constrained site within the Whitehall Park Conservation Area. It contained a locally listed coach house alongside a former petrol station canopy, car repair garage and temporary structures.

The opportunity was to transform an underused and deteriorating site into a high-quality residential development. Establishing how much development the site could accommodate, while creating a scheme that would realistically secure planning permission.

This is where we believe we can add value early in the development process.

Our Approach

We started by analysing the site's planning, heritage, physical and townscape context, establishing the opportunities and constraints before developing the design.

We tested different approaches to:

  • Development capacity — what could the site realistically accommodate?

  • Scale and massing — how could additional density be achieved without overwhelming the surrounding area?

  • Heritage — could the locally listed coach house become an asset rather than an obstacle?

  • Residential quality — could the scheme deliver commercially efficient numbers of high-quality homes?

  • Neighbouring amenity — how could overlooking, scale and visual impact be carefully managed?

  • Planning risk — what concerns were likely to arise and how could they be addressed before submission?

The developing scheme was tested through two pre-application meetings and a Design Review Panel with Islington Council.

This process allowed us to refine the proposal in response to planning feedback, giving the development team greater clarity before the formal application.

The Outcome

Planning permission was granted for:

19

private residential apartments

Residential NIA

12,786 sq ft

1,453 sq ft

Commercial GIA

Heritage Asset

Restoration of the locally listed coach house

Solving Our Client’s Problems

When assessing a new site, developers need answers to questions such as:

  • What can I realistically build here?

  • How can I maximise the site's potential while creating a viable planning proposition?

  • What information do I need before committing more money to the site?

Our role is to help answer these questions early, when they can have the greatest impact on the success of a project.

We help developers understand what their sites can deliver and turn complex planning constraints into viable development opportunities.

If you're considering acquiring a site or have a project that isn't reaching its potential, we'd be happy to have an initial conversation.

Discuss a development opportunity →