Can't disagree with you Keith and like you there's no way I'd ever buy a flat on the lower floors of the Kew Bridge development which faced east directly overlooking the South Circular.Saying that I actually think in terms of its design/visual appearance the Kew Bridge development has been done well, although clearly that isn't a view shared by everyone as some woman (who may or may not have been drunk) stopped me on Kew Bridge Road pointing at it and rambling on about what a monstrosity it was, at which point I couldn't resist telling her I'm a planning consultant who gets planning permission for developments such as that, at which point the conversation ended abruptly !. However, the "professional" reason for the provision of balconies is because that area of balcony space is regarded as private amenity space. Clearly in a development consisting of flats there's little opportunity for individual private gardens, so instead usually a communal amenity area is provided (landscaped courtyard type of thing) and then most/all flats also have a private balcony. It's also the norm for the leases to such places to prevent any leaseholder using the balconies to hang washing, either on the railings or on other structures or satellite dishes (which could require planning permission anyway). How strictly managing agents actually enforce the terms of such leases varies considerably.
Adam Beamish ● 5006d