The plans will see two additional storeys added to block next to former Trebor Sweets factory in Forest Gate, reports Nick Clark, Local Democracy Reporter

Sarwan House as it looks now (credit Google) and (inset) how it is expected to look with an additional two storeys (credit Locus Architecture)

Two new storeys can be added to a block of flats in Forest Gate, Newham Council has agreed – making it a tall building on a residential street.

The plans are to convert Sarwan House in Katherine Road, next to the former Trebor Sweets factory, into a building reaching up to six storeys high. Council planning officers granted it approval last week.

The development is outside of an area designated for tall buildings. But officers said the extension “would not result in any significant impacts to the surrounding area and neighbours as a new tall building”.

Sarwan House is a predominantly four-storey building at present, with one small part rising up to five storeys. The approved plans – submitted to the council by someone named only as ‘Mr Sanger’ – would see the whole block raised to up to six storeys.

The redevelopment will involve building an extension of an existing flat roof at the third level, and a new fifth floor, to build seven new flats.

This is a net increase of three flats, as some existing homes will be divided and one will be replaced by communal outdoor space.

A planning officer’s assessment noted that this would create a six-storey building – classifying it as a tall building under local planning policy.

Sarwan House is outside one of Newham’s tall building zones, a council planning policy which sets out where such buildings are allowed.

However planning officers said the “incremental uplift” to Sarwan House would be acceptable.

Their assessment said: “Whilst the proposals would not be in line with the policy expectations for new tall buildings, consideration is also given towards the nature of the proposal that it involves part-one, part-two upwards extensions on an existing part-four, part-five storey building, rather than introducing a new tower form.

“In this instance, it is considered that the site and surroundings can accommodate this incremental uplift.”

Officers granted planning permission last Wednesday (25th).

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