Camden Council approves eight new penthouses at Darwin Court
Developer Airspace Group will add rooftop extensions to five blocks in Primrose Hill, with the council receiving £500,000 for affordable housing.
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Camden Council's planning committee has approved the construction of eight new rooftop penthouses at Darwin Court in Primrose Hill. The decision, made on Thursday 21 August 2026, allows developer Airspace Group to add single-storey flat-roof extensions to the estate's five residential blocks. The scheme will contribute £500,000 to the council's affordable housing fund.
Long planning history and resident objections
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Camden Council has received a change of use application for the property at 44-46 Belsize Lane.
The approval marks the latest chapter in a planning saga for Darwin Court that has continued for three decades. Numerous residents had objected to the proposals, citing fears over increased service charges, disruption during construction, and doubts about the existing buildings' capacity to support the additional weight. In 2024, 150 households had previously objected to similar plans, with a dozen more residents urging rejection at the recent meeting.
Resident Teri Olins urged the committee to protect the existing 104 homes at Darwin Court, stating, “The eight luxury penthouses are prospective. The 104 homes at Darwin Court exist now. I’m urging you to protect the people already living here.” Previous applications, including one in 2010, were refused, with a Planning Inspector in 1996 dismissing an appeal and noting that any height increase would make the buildings "even more dominant and overbearing".
Council's justification for approval
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The community land trust will deliver eight affordable and six market-rate homes at 31 Daleham Gardens.
Despite the objections, Camden Council's planning committee upheld its earlier decision to grant permission. Council officers argued that the public benefits of the scheme, which include the £500,000 for affordable housing, landscaping upgrades, and new platform lifts, outweighed the “less than substantial harm” to the local conservation area. The council also noted that the local need for housing in Camden had increased since the initial application.
An earlier approval in November 2024 required further consultation after residents alerted HS2 to a lack of consultation regarding underground works, which have since been dropped. HS2 did not object to the revised plans but requested detailed documentation before construction commences.
Questions this report answers
+What has Camden Council approved at Darwin Court?
Camden Council's planning committee has approved plans for eight new rooftop penthouses at Darwin Court in Primrose Hill. Developer Airspace Group will add single-storey extensions to five existing blocks, with construction expected to begin after detailed documentation is provided.
+How much will the scheme contribute to affordable housing?
As part of the planning approval, developer Airspace Group will contribute £500,000 in cash to Camden Council's affordable housing fund. This contribution is considered one of the public benefits of the development.
+What were the main concerns raised by residents?
Residents raised concerns about potential increases in service charges due to the new penthouses, disruption from construction works, and doubts about the structural integrity of the existing buildings to support the additional weight. Some also cited the long history of objections to previous development plans.
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