A Homeowner's Essential Guide to the Planning Process London Extend cuts through the complexity to explain the key steps and concepts you need to know for your home extension.

At London Extend, we believe that understanding the planning journey is the first step toward a successful project. While the system has many layers, the process for a homeowner follows a logical path. Here is our concise guide to navigating the key stages, from your initial idea to securing the consent needed to build.

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First Steps: Understanding Your Route to Approval

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The first question we determine is whether your project can be done under Permitted Development (PD) Rights or if it requires a Full Planning Application. PD rights are a national grant of permission for common projects like smaller extensions, allowing them to proceed without a full application, provided they meet strict criteria. If your project falls under this route, we strongly advise securing a Lawful Development Certificate (LDC) – a legal document from the council confirming your project's compliance, which is vital for peace of mind and future property sales. For larger PD projects, a Prior Approval process may be needed, where the council briefly assesses the impact on neighbours.

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However, this simpler path is not always available. If your property is a Listed Building, you will require specific Listed Building Consent for almost any work, a process that protects our national Heritage. Likewise, being in a Conservation Area or under an Article 4 Direction severely restricts PD rights to preserve local character. In these situations, or if your design is simply more ambitious than PD allows, a Full Planning Application becomes the necessary route.

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Navigating the Formal Application and Its Nuances

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Embarking on a Full Planning Application is a detailed process. We often begin by seeking Pre-application advice from the council to gauge their position early on. The application itself involves submitting detailed plans for assessment, a process that typically takes around 8 weeks. It’s crucial to define the use correctly; a home office is an Ancillary Use, but creating a separate flat would be a Change of Use, requiring a different type of application.

If your application is approved, it will almost certainly come with planning conditions that must be legally discharged before or during construction. Should it be refused, you have the right to a Planning appeal with the national Planning Inspectorate. It's crucial to follow this process correctly. Building without permission may force you into a high-risk Retrospective planning application, and while the 4 and 10 year rules on enforcement exist, they are complex and should never be part of a strategy.

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Beyond Permission: From Consent to Construction

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Securing your consent is a huge milestone, but it's not the final hurdle. It is absolutely essential to understand the difference between Planning Permission vs Building Regulations. Planning gives you permission for the principle and appearance of the development, whereas Building Regulations are the technical standards for construction that ensure safety, structural integrity, and efficiency. You must satisfy both. This distinction is especially critical in complex projects like Barn Conversions. Finally, the detailed drawings created for your successful application are invaluable for the next stage: winning quotes from contractors. A clear, professionally prepared plan allows builders to price accurately, giving you control over your budget and paving the way for a smooth construction phase.