A stronger connection to the garden does not always require an extension. At a flat on Tressillian Road in Brockley, our design reorganises the lower ground floor and changes the rear openings, creating a more connected kitchen and dining area within the existing building.
Lewisham Council granted full planning permission on 19 May 2026, under application DC/26/142718. The approved works include removing the small rear toilet structure, installing aluminium bifolding doors, forming new garden steps and replacing selected side and rear windows.
Opening up the kitchen while keeping a separate living room
The existing plan divided the rear of the flat between a kitchen and dining room, with the toilet occupying part of the garden-facing edge. The proposed arrangement brings the kitchen and dining space together and removes that rear obstruction. An island provides a central work surface, with space for a dining table in the same room.
The living room at the front keeps its own identity. Double pocket doors between it and the kitchen and dining area allow the rooms to connect when useful and close off when a quieter space is wanted. This gives the layout flexibility without making every activity share one continuous room.
A separate utility space is also shown near the entrance. Together with the kitchen storage, it provides a place for everyday practical functions, leaving the main rear room available for cooking, meals and time together. The improvements come from reorganising the space already available, rather than adding a larger building footprint.
Designing the route from the flat to the garden
The new rear bifolding doors replace the enclosed arrangement around the toilet with a wider glazed opening towards the patio. A high-level side window brings another source of light into the kitchen area, while the rear outlook becomes a stronger feature of the room.
The garden sits above the patio level, so the design also addresses the change in height outside. New steps lead up to the garden, with retaining walls and planters defining the patio edges. The sections show how the internal room, lower patio and raised garden fit together, making the outdoor transition part of the overall design.
This is an important part of the proposal’s usefulness. Improving the doors alone would leave the level change unresolved; considering the steps and retaining edges alongside the internal layout gives a clearer route between the kitchen, patio and garden.
Window details suited to the conservation-area setting
The property is within the Brockley Conservation Area, and the design concentrates on the rear and side elevations while retaining the street-facing frontage. The approach distinguishes between the new garden opening and the existing window details.
Aluminium frames are used for the bifolding doors and selected rear glazing. Existing side windows are replaced with like-for-like timber units, and the drawings include sash and casement details, matching sash horns and provision to retain existing cills where possible. Double glazing is incorporated into the replacement-window design with the aim of improving comfort while respecting the established appearance.
The result is a proposal that combines a more adaptable internal layout with a carefully detailed garden connection. If you are considering alterations to a similar flat, explore our conservation area planning service or book a call to discuss your property.
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