Experience buying roof from Camden Council

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I would like to build a roof terrace on my ex local authority leasehold flat. Lockdown has made me realise that zero outside space is no good for mental health! It's in a victorian conversion in Camden. I understand that I need planning permission, permission from the district housing office and to buy the roof from leaseholder services. It's a complex thing and I don't want to spend thousands on architects plans without understanding the pitfalls first. The person in charge at the district housing office wont answer the phone or emails! Does anyone have any experience with this?

I know that Lewisham don't sell roof space - they have an FAQ on the Lewisham Homes website. Does Camden have a similar website?

It does and they do sell it. Its just difficult understanding the potential pitfalls.

Look at recent planning applications to see reasoning for rejections, try your nearby roads, or keyword search “roof”. Use Google satellite view to spot similar terraces and look up the planning permission for that address. The drawings will have the architect they used which will be helpful; you want an architect that’s familiar with your borough’s planning principles and people. It’s very subjective and dependent on the person in post.

Read the Supplementary Planning Documents for your borough www.camden.gov.uk/planning-policy-documents . The “Home Improvements” one covers extension etc.

You can book an appointment for pre-planning advice, it costs money though. www.camden.gov.uk/pre-planning-application-advice-small-medium-developments

An architect should do you a conceptual drawing for a couple of hundred. They’ll at least do a visit for quotation which might help you. You want to get to know architects anyway.

Treat the buying and obtaining planning permission as two separate processes (though to you very tied together!). You could contact a conveyancer to initiate contact, maybe a surveyor to understand market price to offer.

Personally I would not look at buying it unless I was certain I could do exactly what I wanted with the roof and was going to live there indefinitely. If you own the roof you’ll be responsible for its maintenance and arranging works, and scaffolding and roof works are pricey.

Sorry my first paragraph was meant to have this link www.camden.gov.uk/search-for-planning-applications

Do you really need to talk to the person in charge of the district office? This sounds like something one of his/her employees could talk you through

This document explains the process. It looks as if it is possible to buy roof space from the Council. www.camden.gov.uk/documents/20142/0/Leaseholder+guide+structural+alterations+February+2020.pdf/756852c8-3d70-144d-1674-727747e2753a?t=1587984976775