Every type of planning, handled properly.

Do you need planning permission in London?

Many home improvements fall under permitted development, which allows work without a planning application provided it stays within set limits on size, height, position and materials. Flats and maisonettes have almost no permitted development rights, and Article 4 directions, conservation areas and listed status can remove them entirely. The only reliable answer comes from checking the rules against your specific address.

How far can you extend without planning permission?

For a house, a single-storey rear extension can generally project 3m from the original rear wall (4m for a detached house), or 6m and 8m respectively under the prior approval — neighbour consultation — route. Height is limited to 4m, or 3m within 2m of a boundary, and side extensions are limited to half the width of the house. Designated areas apply tighter limits.

Types of application we prepare

Householder planning applications for extensions and alterations; full applications for new build and flats; prior approval for larger rear extensions; certificates of lawfulness for existing or proposed use; change of use applications including commercial to residential; advertisement consent; and applications to vary or remove conditions.

How long does a decision take?

Householder and minor applications carry an eight-week statutory target from validation; major schemes are thirteen weeks. Validation itself can add time if the council requires additional documents, which is why we prepare the full drawing set and supporting statements up front.

Design, access and planning statements

Most applications stand or fall on the statement that accompanies them. We prepare design and access statements and planning statements that set out the policy case for your scheme — the argument the case officer relies on when recommending approval. Well-reasoned statements materially improve outcomes, especially on tighter sites.

Refused? We review it and find the route to yes

A refusal is rarely the end. Send us the decision notice and drawings and we will review the officer's reasons, then give you a straight answer: which changes would make the scheme approvable, whether an appeal to the Planning Inspectorate is worth pursuing, or whether the honest advice is that the project is a no-go on this site. You will know exactly where you stand before spending another pound.

Resubmission and appeals, handled

Where the objection is fixable, we amend the design and resubmit — a fresh application within twelve months is usually free. Where the refusal does not stand up to policy, we prepare and manage the appeal. Either way, you get a plan, not just a problem.

Working on a listed building? See listed building consent →

Every London borough

We work across London including Tower Hamlets, Hackney, Islington, Camden, Westminster, Barnet, Enfield, Haringey, Newham, Waltham Forest, Southwark, Lambeth, Wandsworth, Ealing, Brent and Croydon.