Building up – reducing London’s housing needs through roof extensions
Mansard roof extensions are a common feature of British streetscapes and a means of increasing living space in a way that “imposes very little visual burden”.1
They were fairly common practice in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, but the practice became less common in the twentieth century with many local authorities eventually prohibiting them altogether.
Recently, planning policies have again encouraged upwards extensions. The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) has included a clause encouraging “the use of airspace above existing residential and commercial premises for new homes”, under particular conditions since 2023.2
The London Assembly Planning and Regeneration Committee will meet tomorrow to speak with experts and London Boroughs about the pros and cons of upwards extensions, and how they might help reduce London’s housing need.
Guests include:
Panel 1: 2-3.15pm:
- Riette Oosthuizen, Partner Planning, HTA Design
- Dr Charles Gillot, Senior Sustainability Engineer, WSP UK & Ireland
- Claire Brady, Team Leader, London Development Advice Team, Historic England
- Nichoals Boys-Smith, Founder and Chairman, Create Streets
Panel 2: 3.20-4.30pm:
- Michael Ritchie, Place Shaping Manager, LB Tower Hamlets
- Michael Holland, Deputy CEO, Populo Living
- Richard Truscott, Principal Design Officer, London Borough of Haringey
- Ash Bhatti, CEO, Apex Airspace development
The meeting will take place in Committee Rooms 2&3 at City Hall on Wednesday 8 July 2026 at 2pm.
Media and members of the public are invited to attend.
The meeting can also be viewed LIVE or later via webcast or YouTube.
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Notes to editors
- Create Streets. (2024). The Mansard Revolution
- See para 125 (e) National Planning Policy Framework (2024)
- James Small-Edwards AM, Chair of the Planning and Regeneration Committee, is available for interview.
- Find out more about the work of the Planning and Regeneration Committee
- Read the agenda in full.
- As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.
For more information, please contact Daniel Zikmund in the Assembly Media Office on 07860647577 or [email protected]. For out of hours media enquiries please call 020 7983 4000 and ask for the Assembly duty press officer.