Planning in London Boroughs
If you want to get Planning Permission in London it helps to know the rules in each Borough. Most have their own local Planning Policy to work to, and some are tougher than others. Each London Borough deals with planning permission in their own way. Some have a design guide to download known as an SPD or SPG. Others offer free pre-application advice, but most now charge for this.
What are SPDs and SPGs?
Each Council is required to publish their own Planning Policy as part of the wider London Plan. An SPD is a Supplementary Planning Document and an SPG is Supplementary Planning Guidance. These are documents that the Council can publish to supplement their main planning policy and to explain their planning rules in more detail. Most Councils publish either an SPD or SPG that aims to give clear Residential Design Guidance.
Planning Policy in your Borough
We have listed every London Borough below along with the following key details. So just look up your Borough below and give yourself the best start to understand Planning in your part of London.
- The % of residential planning applications approved last year
- Links to residential design guidance for householder projects
- Whether the pre-aaplication advice offered is free or paid for
Featured image is a map based on UK Gov Data showing % of Homeowner Planning Applications approved by each London Borough last year
Barking and Dagenham
735 householder planning applications were submitted in London Borough of Barking and Dagenham last year.
Download the Barking and Dagenham Residential Extensions and Alterations SPD
Pre-application advice costs £250 in Barking and Dagenham. This is more than the cost of making a planning application so does not make sense for most people.
Barnet
2,100 householder planning applications were submitted in London Borough of Barnet last year.
Download the Barnet Residential Design Guide SPD
Pre-application advice costs £148.20 in Barnet but does not include a site visit or a meeting so many people go straight to a planning application instead.
Barnet Extension London Planning Permission by 2PM Architects
Bexley
1,400 householder planning applications were submitted in London Borough of Bexley last year.
Download the Bexley Design For Living Residential Design Guide
Pre-application advice costs £90 in Bexley which is one of the lowest charges in London, so it might be worth taking them up on their offer.
Brent
1,300 householder planning applications were submitted in London Borough of Brent last year.
Download the Brent Residential Extensions and Alterations SPD
Pre-application advice costs £240 in Brent. This is more than the cost of making a planning application so does not make sense for most people.
Bromley
2,200 householder planning applications were submitted in London Borough of Bromley last year.
Download the Bromley Residential Design Guide SPG
Pre-application advice costs £150 in Bromley, so is quite sensible if there is some planning risk in your project.
Camden
416 householder planning applications were submitted in London Borough of Camden last year.
Camden do not publish a residential design guide SPD or SPG
London Borough of Camden charge £433 for pre-application advice which is one of the most expensive, and much more than the cost of a planning application.
Camden Refurbishment London Planning Permission by 2PM Architects
City of London
10 householder planning applications were submitted in City of London last year.
City of London do not publish a residential design guide SPD or SPG
Pre-application advice is free in the City of London so we recommend taking up this offer
Croydon
1,400 householder planning applications were submitted in London Borough of Croydon last year.
Download the Croydon Residential Extensions and Alterations SPD
Pre-application advice costs £96 in Croydon which is one of the lowest charges in London, so it might be worth taking them up on their offer.
Ealing
1,300 householder planning applications were submitted in London Borough of Ealing last year.
Download the Ealing Residential Extensions SPD
Pre-application advice costs £150 in Ealing, so is quite sensible if there is some planning risk in your project.
Ealing Extension London Planning Permission by 2PM Architects
Enfield
1,200 householder planning applications were submitted in London Borough of Enfield last year.
Enfield do not publish a residential design guide SPD or SPG
Pre-application advice is free in Enfield so we recommend taking up this offer
Enfield Extension London Planning Permission by 2PM Architects
Greenwich
975 householder planning applications were submitted in London Borough of Greenwich last year.
Download the Greenwich Residential Extensions Basements and Conversions SPD
Pre-application advice is free in Greenwich so we recommend taking up this offer
Blackheath Extension London Planning Permission by 2PM Architects
Hackney
547 householder planning applications were submitted in London Borough of Hackney last year.
Download the Hackney Residential Extensions and Alterations SPD
Pre-application advice costs £90 in Hackney. This is one of the lowest charges in London, so it might be worth taking them up on their offer.
Hammersmith and Fulham
1,400 householder planning applications were submitted in London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham last year.
Hammersmith and Fulham do not publish a residential design guide SPD or SPG
Pre-application advice costs £300 in Hammersmith and Fulham. This is more than the cost of making a planning application so does not make sense for most people.
Haringey
1,200 householder planning applications were submitted in London Borough of Haringey last year.
Haringey do not publish a residential design guide SPD or SPG
Pre-application advice costs £307 in Haringey. This is more than the cost of making a planning application so does not make sense for most people.
Highgate Extension London Planning Permission by 2PM Architects
Harrow
1,400 householder planning applications were submitted in London Borough of Harrow last year.
Download the Harrow Residential Design Guide SPD
Pre-application advice costs £240 in Harrow. This is more than the cost of making a planning application so does not make sense for most people.
Pinner Extension London Planning Permission by 2PM Architects
Havering
1,300 householder planning applications were submitted in London Borough of Havering last year.
Download the Havering Residential Extensions and Alterations SPD
Pre-application advice costs £53 in Havering. This is one of the lowest charges in London, so it might be worth taking them up on their offer.
Hillingdon
1,700 householder planning applications were submitted in London Borough of Hillingdon last year.
Download the Hillingdon Residential Extensions SPD
Pre-application advice is free in Hillingdon so we recommend taking up this offer.
Ruislip Extension London Planning Permission by 2PM Architects
Hounslow
1,200 householder planning applications were submitted in London Borough of Hounslow last year.
Download the Hounslow Residential Extensions Guidelines SPD
Pre-application advice costs £172 in Hounslow, so is quite sensible if there is some planning risk in your project.
Islington
467 householder planning applications were submitted in London Borough of Islington last year.
Islington do not publish a residential design guide SPD or SPG
Pre-application advice costs £333.60 in Islington. This is more than the cost of making a planning application so does not make sense for most people.
Islington Refurbishment London Planning Permission by 2PM Architects
Kensington and Chelsea
914 householder planning applications were submitted in Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea last year.
Kensington and Chelsea do not publish a residential design guide SPD or SPG
Pre-application advice costs £446 in Kensington and Chelsea. This is more than the cost of making a planning application so does not make sense for most people.
Kensington Refurbishment London Planning Permission by 2PM Architects
Kingston upon Thames
1,100 householder planning applications were submitted in Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames last year.
Download the Kingston upon Thames Residential Design SPD
Pre-application advice costs £145 in Kingston upon Thames, so is quite sensible if there is some planning risk in your project.
Kingston Conversion London Planning Permission by 2PM Architects
Lambeth
1,300 householder planning applications were submitted in London Borough of Lambeth last year.
Download the Lambeth Building Alterations and Extensions SPD
Pre-application advice costs £137 in Lambeth, so is quite sensible if there is some planning risk in your project.
Lewisham
860 householder planning applications were submitted in London Borough of Lewisham last year.
Download the Lewisham Alterations and Extensions SPD
Pre-application advice costs £216 in Lewisham, so is quite sensible if there is some planning risk in your project.
Merton
1,200 householder planning applications were submitted in London Borough of Merton last year.
Merton do not publish a residential design guide SPD or SPG
Pre-application advice costs £99 in Merton. This is one of the lowest charges in London, so it might be worth taking them up on their offer.
Newham
749 householder planning applications were submitted in London Borough of Newham last year.
Newham do not publish a residential design guide SPD or SPG
Pre-application advice is free in Newham so it is a good idea to take up this offer.
Redbridge
1,500 householder planning applications were submitted in London Borough of Redbridge last year.
Download the Redbridge Housing Design SPD
Pre-application advice is free in Redbridge so we recommend taking up this offer.
Richmond upon Thames
1,700 householder planning applications were submitted in London Borough of Richmond upon Thames last year.
Download the Richmond upon Thames Housing Extensions and External Alterations SPD
Pre-application advice costs £123 in Richmond upon Thames, so is quite sensible if there is some planning risk in your project.
Richmond Extension Planning Permission by 2PM Architects
Southwark
709 householder planning applications were submitted in London Borough of Southwark last year.
Download the Southwark Residential Design Standards SPD
Pre-application advice costs £150 in Southwark, so is quite sensible if there is some planning risk in your project.
Sutton
939 householder planning applications were submitted in London Borough of Sutton last year.
Download the Sutton Design of Residential Extensions SPD
Pre-application advice costs £124 in Sutton, so is quite sensible if there is some planning risk in your project.
Tower Hamlets
240 householder planning applications were submitted in London Borough of Tower Hamlets last year.
Tower Hamlets do not publish a residential design guide SPD or SPG
Pre-application advice is free in Tower Hamlets so it is a good idea to take up this offer.
Waltham Forest
626 householder planning applications were submitted in London Borough of Waltham Forest last year.
Download the Waltham Forest Residential Extensions and Alterations SPD
Pre-application advice is free in Waltham Forest so it is a good idea to take up this offer.
Wandsworth
1,500 householder planning applications were submitted in London Borough of Wandsworth last year.
Wandsworth do not publish a residential design guide SPD or SPG
Pre-application advice costs £73 in Wandsworth. This is one of the lowest charges in London so it is a good idea to take up this offer.
Westminster
583 householder planning applications were submitted in London Borough of Westminster last year.
Westminster do not publish a residential design guide SPD or SPG
Pre-application advice costs £300 in Westminster. This is more than the cost of making a planning application so does not make sense for most people.
Westminster Extension London Planning Permission by 2PM Architects