Woodn't it be nice to have a bit more space?

Only yesterday was I reading in the Guardian that in the Netherlands the average size of a new-build dwelling is 115sqm and in Japan it is 92.5sqm, while in the UK it is just 76sqm.

We have become accustomed to paying ridiculously large amounts of money for poorly built and tiny homes. England and Wales are the only countries in the EU with no national space standards. That is the simple reason why we build the smallest homes with the smallest rooms, which might give some indication as to why Londoners appear to be creating extra space in imaginative ways...

We recently blogged about pod living and how some were so inspired they popped down to their local Homebase, bought a garden shed and stuck it on their roof. See the evidence here and here.

Well, it looks as though the concept is spreading. I came across this yesterday in Stamford Hill, whilst site visiting. This is a 13-unit scheme on Clapton Common, completed back in 2002. However the 4 large balconies appear to have what looks like a garden shed (actually just some mdf nailed together), creating an extra room. Some have even put windows in, covered with plastic perspex to let in sunlight.

I wonder what Hackney Council think of it? I can't see any plans on Hackney's website (as if their would be plans for it), however permission was granted this year for the 'erection of a part single storey and part two storey side extension and two storey rear extension', as if the balcony/room wasn't enough.

You can imagine it being advertised for rent as having a 'winter garden'. Come May you could take it down for the summer months and up it goes again in September. The thing is when the council do eventually come knocking to tell you to take it down, it takes 5 minutes to de-assemble, has cost you very little and comes with a slap on the wrist. What's the betting someone initiated it, then others around them thought well if their doing it, then I'm doing it.