Need planning permission in London? Detailed Planning prepares drawings, planning applications and supporting documents for extensions, lofts, new homes, flat conversions, change of use and commercial projects across London.
Planning Permission Support From Design To Decision
Applying for planning permission in London can be difficult without the right drawings, documents and planning strategy.
Every borough has its own local policies, planning history and design expectations. A proposal that works in one area may need a different approach in another.
At Detailed Planning, we help homeowners, developers and businesses prepare stronger planning applications across London. We review the property, develop the design, prepare the drawings, submit the application and monitor the council process through to decision.
Our aim is to make the planning permission process clearer, more structured and less stressful from the beginning.
What Is Planning Permission?
Planning permission is formal approval from the local planning authority for certain types of building work, development or changes of use.
In London, planning permission may be required for extensions, loft conversions, new dwellings, flat conversions, commercial changes of use, shopfront alterations, signage, external changes and works to properties in conservation areas or listed buildings.
Some smaller projects may fall under permitted development rights, but many projects still need a formal planning application.
The right route depends on the property, proposal, planning history, local policy and site constraints.
At Detailed Planning, we help you understand whether planning permission is needed and prepare the drawings and documents required for submission.
Our Planning Permission Services
We provide planning permission services across London and surrounding areas for homeowners, landlords, developers and businesses.
Planning Route Advice
We start by advising on the most suitable planning route.
This may be a householder planning application, full planning application, change of use application, advertisement consent, listed building consent, Lawful Development Certificate or pre-application enquiry.
Planning History Review
We check publicly available planning history to understand previous approvals, refusals, planning conditions and relevant council comments.
This helps identify potential issues before the application is prepared.
Architectural Drawings
We prepare existing and proposed drawings to explain the project clearly to the council.
This may include floor plans, elevations, roof plans, site plans, block plans and other drawings depending on the application type.
Supporting Documents
Depending on the project, we may prepare design and access statements, planning statements, heritage statements or other supporting documents.
Where specialist reports are required, we can recommend or coordinate with third-party consultants.
Planning Application Submission
We prepare and submit the planning application to the relevant London borough council through the planning portal or council system.
We act as your agent and handle the application process on your behalf where agreed.
Council Monitoring And Responses
After submission, we monitor the application, track validation, respond to reasonable planning officer queries and advise on any requested amendments.
Once a decision is issued, we explain the outcome and advise on the next step.
Why Our Planning Advice Is Linked To Design
Planning consultancy is most effective when it is connected to the design process.
We do not usually provide standalone planning consultancy for projects already designed by another architect, because we may not be able to influence the design enough to reduce the planning risk.
Instead, our planning advice is usually provided as part of our own design, feasibility or planning application service.
This means we can consider the planning strategy while the proposal is still being shaped.
That allows us to challenge the layout, scale, massing, appearance or application route before the design becomes fixed.
This approach helps create stronger planning applications and reduces the risk of avoidable issues being discovered too late.
Choose The Right Planning Permission Service
Whether you are improving your home, developing a site or preparing a commercial application, we can tailor the planning permission process to suit your project.
Planning permission in London is often more successful when design, planning strategy and application preparation are considered together.
Planning-Led Design Approach
We design with planning risk in mind from the beginning.
This helps avoid proposals that look attractive but are likely to face objections, delays or refusal.
Experience Across London Boroughs
We regularly work with London borough councils and understand how local policy, planning history and site context can affect applications.
Clear And Honest Advice
We give honest advice on risk.
If a proposal is unlikely to be supported, we will explain why and advise whether it should be amended, tested or approached differently.
Strong Application Packages
We prepare clear drawings and supporting documents so the council can understand the proposal properly.
Residential And Commercial Experience
We can assist with householder applications, full planning applications, new dwellings, flat conversions, change of use, advertisement consent and conservation area projects.
Support Through The Council Process
We act as your planning agent, monitor the application and respond to reasonable council queries until a decision is issued.
Planning Permission Across London
We help clients apply for planning permission in London across a wide range of boroughs and project types.
Every London borough has its own local plan, design guidance, planning history and approach to development.
A proposal in Barnet, Haringey, Enfield, Camden, Islington, Hackney, Brent, Ealing, Lambeth, Wandsworth, Westminster or Redbridge may raise different planning issues depending on the site and local context.
This is why local planning experience and careful application preparation are important.
We can advise on the most suitable route and prepare the planning application documents for the relevant council.
We start by reviewing your property, site, brief and any information already available.
This may include estate agent plans, existing drawings, planning history, photographs, previous approvals, refusals or council correspondence.
We then advise on the most suitable route, such as feasibility, pre-application advice, permitted development, Lawful Development Certificate, householder planning application, full planning application, change of use or advertisement consent.
2. Design And Planning Strategy
Where we are preparing the design, we develop the drawings with planning risk in mind.
This includes considering scale, layout, appearance, neighbouring impact, local policies, conservation constraints, amenity, access, parking and likely council concerns.
For higher-risk projects, we may recommend testing the proposal through a feasibility study or pre-application enquiry before a full application is submitted.
3. Application Preparation And Submission
Once the route is agreed, we prepare the application documents.
This may include existing and proposed drawings, application forms, location plans, block plans, design and access statements, planning statements, heritage statements or other supporting information depending on the application type.
We then submit the application to the council on your behalf where agreed.
4. Council Monitoring And Next Steps
After submission, we monitor the application and act as your planning agent.
We respond to reasonable planning officer queries, advise on any requested amendments and keep you updated during the council process.
Once the decision is issued, we explain the outcome and advise on the next stage. This may include discharging conditions, moving to building regulations, revising the scheme, resubmitting or considering an appeal strategy where appropriate.
What Happens After Planning Permission Is Granted?
Once planning permission is granted, the next stage is usually to move into building regulations and technical design.
Planning approval confirms that the council has accepted the proposal in planning terms, but it does not mean the project is ready to build.
Most projects still need building regulations drawings, structural calculations, building control approval and possibly other matters such as party wall agreements, drainage investigations, Thames Water approval or discharge of planning conditions.
We can help with the next stage by preparing building regulations drawings and coordinating with structural engineers and other consultants where required.
If you are planning an extension, loft conversion, new dwelling, flat conversion, change of use or commercial alteration, we can help you choose the right planning route.
Send us the address, a short description of the project and any drawings or previous planning information you already have.
We will review the project and advise on the most suitable next step.
You may need planning permission in London if you are extending, altering, converting, redeveloping or changing the use of a property.
The answer depends on the property type, location, planning history, design and whether permitted development rights apply.
We can review the project and advise whether planning permission, permitted development, a Lawful Development Certificate or another route is more suitable.
Most householder and minor planning applications are usually targeted by councils for around 8 weeks from validation.
More complex applications, major proposals, listed building matters, conservation area projects, pre-application enquiries and commercial schemes can take longer.
Council delays are common, so the overall timescale may depend on validation, officer workload, consultation responses and whether amendments are requested.
Most planning applications require clear existing and proposed drawings.
This may include floor plans, elevations, roof plans, site location plan, block plan and other drawings depending on the project.
More complex applications may also need design and access statements, planning statements, heritage statements, transport information, daylight/sunlight information, ecology reports or other supporting documents.
If the drawings are accurate and suitable, we may be able to use them as part of the planning application process.
However, if the drawings are incomplete, inaccurate or not suitable for planning submission, we may need to update them or carry out a measured survey.
We can review the refusal reasons, assess whether the design can be amended and advise whether a revised application, pre-application enquiry or appeal route may be appropriate.
The right approach depends on the reasons for refusal and the planning history.
If planning permission is refused, we will review the reasons and advise on the next steps.
This may include amending the design, submitting a revised application, seeking pre-application advice or considering whether an appeal is appropriate.
Yes. We can assist with full planning applications for new dwellings, including side plots, rear plots, garden sites, garage sites and redevelopment opportunities.
These applications need careful consideration of design, access, outlook, privacy, amenity space, parking and local character.
Yes. We can assist with planning applications for flat conversions.
These projects often involve planning issues such as national space standards, outlook, privacy, amenity space, refuse storage, cycle parking, noise and the loss of family housing.
Yes. Although this page focuses on Planning Permission London, we can also assist with projects in surrounding areas, including parts of Hertfordshire, Essex and other locations where suitable.
For some services, site visits and builder introductions may be location dependent.
