At Erlesmere Gardens in West Ealing, the important design question was how a rear extension would feel inside. Our planning work revisited an earlier flat-roof proposal, introducing a pitched roof to improve headroom and accommodating four rooflights. The layout brings together an enlarged kitchen, a shower room and compact utility space, while giving careful attention to the dining room behind the new addition.
Ealing Council granted householder planning permission on 27 May 2026 under application 261527HH. The decision covers a single-storey rear extension with a pitched roof and four rooflights.
Making the roof work for the rooms below
The planning statement identifies limited internal ceiling height as a weakness in the previously approved flat-roof scheme. The revised design retains the extension footprint described in that submission and changes the roof form to improve the quality of the space beneath it.
This is an example of why architectural design needs to consider sections as well as floor plans. A plan shows where rooms fit; the section reveals the available height, the slope of the roof and the relationship between the extension and the original house. At Erlesmere Gardens, those relationships shaped both the internal arrangement and the way daylight reaches the existing accommodation.
Bringing light back towards the dining room
Adding rooms at the rear can change how daylight reaches the rooms further inside a house. Here, the dining room sits immediately behind the proposed utility and shower-room area, so simply adding glazing at the garden end would not address the whole layout.
The drawings show light tunnels linking rooflights to the dining room through its former rear opening. The opening is partially infilled below, while the upper part becomes part of the route for light from above. Opening devices and ventilation provisions are also indicated for the rooflights serving this room.
The intention is to retain the dining room as a useful part of the ground floor while introducing the additional facilities beyond it. This attention to the existing rooms is an important part of our house extension design service.
Practical facilities in a compact addition
The proposed plan widens the connection from the kitchen into the rear addition. A ground-floor shower room adds another washing facility, and the utility space provides a separate place for household tasks. The front reception room and the dining room remain distinct spaces, preserving a choice of rooms for everyday use.
Brickwork and roof tiles are specified to relate to the existing house. The council’s permission requires external materials to match the existing building unless the approved documents state otherwise. Its decision also records consideration of neighbouring amenity and the property’s appearance.
Roof form and glazing need to suit each property. Our rear extension on Verulam Road in Ealing offers another example of using rooflights and garden-facing openings within a different ground-floor arrangement.
For Erlesmere Gardens, the detailed junctions, drainage and ventilation remain part of the building regulations and technical design work. These details connect the accepted planning design with the information needed for construction.
If you are considering a rear extension or revisiting an existing proposal, book a call to discuss your home and priorities.
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