A one-bedroom house squeezed onto a former garage site in Putney showcases the growing trend of infill development as London property values rise and available land becomes scarce.
The three-storey property at 65A Wadham Road sits between two semi-detached houses on a plot that once served as a garage. Owner Paul Crowther’s brief to the designer was simple: “Imagine it’s a boat and I want maximum storage.”
The result is a 613 square foot home that maximises every inch of the narrow 3.2-metre-wide site, with each floor serving a distinct purpose and clever design features throughout.
The design
The master bedroom suite occupies the entire ground floor, equipped with built-in wardrobes and a rainforest-style shower. The first floor houses an open-plan kitchen and reception room with floor-to-ceiling windows, wood flooring, and a breakfast bar. A study with roof terrace sits on the second floor, positioned between the main roofs of neighbouring properties to minimise overlooking.
The contemporary design uses weathered zinc cladding and metal-framed windows, creating a stark architectural contrast with the Victorian terraced houses on either side. The roof terrace measures 3.4 square metres, with space for a table and chairs.
Russell White of Winkworth’s Putney office – which is trying to sell the property as we write for a striking £575,000 – described it as “a really cool house and totally self-contained, which is hard to find at that price level in Putney. There are no service charges and it has been very well designed. It is perfect for a first-time buyer, a downsizer or someone looking for a base if they are working in London but living elsewhere.”
Planning controversy
The development was approved by Wandsworth Council in 2013 despite objections from all eight neighbours who responded to the consultation, citing concerns about loss of privacy, impact on the character of the street, and parking pressure.
The approval marked a significant policy shift. In 1993, a similar proposal for the same site was refused on grounds of overdevelopment. By 2013, council planning officers argued that London’s housing crisis justified the change, with the borough needing to achieve a target of 7,500 additional homes by 2017. More than a decade on, things haven’t changed much – we are still in desperate need of more housing.
Growing trend
The Wadham Road property represents an early example of a development type that has accelerated in recent years. As London property values continue to rise and available development sites become scarcer, infill housing – building on underused plots between existing properties, former garages, or small hinterland sites – has become increasingly common across the capital.
Planning permission is required for such developments. Councils must balance housing supply pressures against concerns about neighbourhood character, privacy, and infrastructure capacity. Getting neighbours on side with plans to build an extra home by their property can be challenging, with factors like access, overlooking, and parking needing careful consideration.
Market positioning
The property is on the market for £575,000 freehold, in tax band E. It’s a good spot: close to East Putney tube station, the train station, and Putney High Street. Wandsworth Park and the Thames riverside walk are also nearby.
The property’s compact size and lack of outdoor space beyond the roof terrace limit its appeal to families, but the design maximises the available footprint.
The absence of a second bedroom and limited storage beyond built-in wardrobes are trade-offs for the innovative use of space. The property demonstrates how architectural creativity can turn challenging sites into functional homes, though opinions on its impact on the streetscape likely remain divided.
