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Planning Services in London, From First Check to Consent

Planning decides what your building or plot can become, and so what it is worth. We find the right route, secure consent and can build the approved scheme, with one team throughout.

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What our clients say

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Schemes from £3M to £150M GDV

Our planning work serves development schemes of this size, from first check to consent.

Our planning services

Choosing the wrong route wastes months. These are the routes we assess for every site.

  • Planning permission

    Planning consultancy: strategy, drawings, submission and negotiation to decision.

  • Class MA and prior approval

    Permitted development for commercial-to-residential and other PD rights.

  • Change of use

    Full planning for a new use, then the conversion itself.

  • Airspace

    Extra storeys on buildings you already own.

  • Land value uplift

    What consent adds to your land, shown in numbers.

  • Listed building consent

    Needed for works affecting a listed building, inside or out, often alongside planning.

How it works

We check the planning history, conservation status, listings and Article 4 directions for your address.

We recommend the route (full planning, prior approval, a Lawful Development Certificate or listed building consent) and the evidence needed.

Our design team prepares drawings and coordinates the reports the council will ask for.

We submit, answer officers and consultees, and work through issues before decision.

We discharge conditions and, if you want, build the approved scheme under one contract.

Corner building in a St John's Wood conservation area

Not sure which route your site needs?

Send us the address. We will check the planning position and tell you honestly what is realistic.

Drone view of a corner site in St John's Wood and the streets around it

Free Guide: Planning & Prior Approval in London

Full planning, permitted development, prior approval and change of use, and which route fits your building.

The time limits set by law, a document checklist, and the most common reasons applications are refused.

Why plan with a team that builds

  • Buildable designs

    Our construction team reviews layouts, structure and services while the scheme is designed, not after consent.

  • Real costs

    We price schemes with the same unit-by-unit cost plans we use to build them.

  • Ten years in London

    Founded in 2016. ISO and CHAS accredited, with £10M public and employers' liability cover.

Independently Certified Contractor for Quality, Safety & Reliability

  • British Assessment Bureau
  • British Assessment Bureau certificate
  • British Assessment Bureau
  • Constructionline
  • CHAS Accredited Contractor
  • Alcumus

Planning in London: questions

Do I need planning permission or is it permitted development?

It depends on the building, its use, its location and any Article 4 directions. We check this for your address; where PD applies we can apply for a Lawful Development Certificate so you have proof.

How long does planning take in London?

The statutory target is 8 weeks for minor applications, 13 weeks for major ones and 56 days for many prior approvals. Preparation and negotiation add to this, so we give you a realistic timeline at the start. On larger schemes, pre-application advice comes first.

What makes London planning different?

Large parts of central and west London sit in conservation areas or include listed buildings, and boroughs such as Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea and Camden have detailed policies on basements, roof extensions and changes of use.

What if my application is refused?

We review the reasons, amend the scheme where sensible and resubmit, or advise on whether an appeal is worthwhile.

Do you also build the scheme?

Yes. We are a design and build contractor, so we can take the consented scheme through technical design and construction. See Beaumont House and our other case studies.

How much does planning cost?

Fees depend on the size of the project and the reports needed. We start with a free site appraisal, then quote a clear fee for the planning stage. Our full offer is on the land, planning and development hub.

Find out what your site could become

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