Hillingdon Council approves two homes to be converted into flats

Hillingdon Council has approved plans to convert two family homes into multiple residential units. One property, located at 271 Long Lane, will be transformed into four separate flats, with the capacity to house up to 14 individuals. A second property at 163 Lansbury Drive will be divided into a studio flat and a one-bedroom flat.

Long Lane conversion

The house at 271 Long Lane, which spans the ground floor, first floor, and loft, will be reconfigured to include four new self-contained flats. These will comprise two one-bedroom flats, one two-bedroom maisonette, and one three-bedroom flat. Planning documents indicate the intention for these units to accommodate up to 14 tenants, based on an assumption of two people per room, although the final occupancy will depend on the individuals moving in. The applicant noted the property possessed "an unusually large amount of residential floor space for a single-family dwelling". Council officers assessed that the development would "provide good quality living conditions and would be acceptable with regards to impacts on the character of the area, neighbouring residential amenity, highway safety and parking".

Each new flat will include living space, and the development will provide one allocated off-street parking space for the ground floor flat, along with four cycle parking spaces. The plans were granted approval on Tuesday, August 25.

Lansbury Drive development

At 163 Lansbury Drive, the former family home will be converted into a studio flat and a separate one-bedroom flat, each with access to a private garden. The upper floor flat will not have dedicated outdoor space, a factor deemed acceptable by officers due to the proximity of Belmore Playing Field, located a 16-minute walk away. Proposed rear extensions are not expected to be visible from the street, and officers anticipate no negative impact on surrounding properties regarding loss of outlook or increased sense of enclosure.

Housing supply context

Council officers stated that "positive weight is afforded to the modest contribution that the proposal makes towards the borough's housing supply." This decision comes at a time when Hillingdon Council cannot demonstrate a five-year housing supply. As of April 1, 2026, the borough has a housing supply of two-and-a-half years.