Islington residents have just a few days left to respond to the council’s plans to put a limit on controversial basement extensions.

The council’s proposed plans include limiting basement extensions from being more than double the ‘footprint’ of the original building or taking up 50 per cent or more of the garden – whichever is less – and to resist the excavation of so called ‘mega-basements’, which are over one storey in height.

The number of applications to excavate large basement developments has been on the increase due to soaring property values in the borough, and has risen from 41 to 62 between 2013 and 2014.

Planning permission applicants will be required to provide detailed information on issues including the impact the development would have on surrounding gardens and trees.

Islington Council’s executive member for housing and development, Cllr James Murray, said:

“Islington has strong planning policies to make sure development in the borough is appropriate. We need to keep them up-to-date, and as an increasing number of residents have concerns about the excavation of these large basements, we need to set out the limits of what’s acceptable.”

The council’s formal consultation, launched on 10 July, will close on 4 September 2015.

Residents can give their feedback via the council’s website.