Free planning check
Free Southwark planning permission check
Check in 23 seconds whether your Southwark project needs planning permission, and what the council has approved near you. £995 planning drawings, paid only when the council approves. Council and Portal fees are paid separately at submission.
About the planning data
Checked against 20.6 million UK planning applications on file across 420 planning authorities. Approval rates from 2,343,419 decisions we classified across 181 councils in England.
48
Conservation areas
Southwark approval rates by project type
Historical approval rates in our archive, grouped by project type. These describe recorded decisions, not the chance of approval for your proposal. Checked against 20.6 million UK planning applications on file across 420 planning authorities. Approval rates from 2,343,419 decisions we classified across 181 councils in England.
| Project type | Approval rate | Decided |
|---|---|---|
| Single-storey rear extension | 92% | 2,018 |
| Two-storey rear extension | 92% | 470 |
| Wraparound extension | 95% | 745 |
| Side extension | 95% | 644 |
| Loft conversion and dormer | 86% | 1,006 |
| Rooflight | 95% | 1,278 |
| Outbuilding and garden room | 90% | 307 |
| Porch | 97% | 90 |
| Garage conversion | 98% | 54 |
| Basement | 95% | 2,064 |
| Window and door | 95% | 1,546 |
A rate is only shown where at least 8 applications of that type were decided; smaller samples are shown as unknown. Withdrawn and undecided records are excluded. These figures cover all recorded years, including records without a year. Full Southwark approval rates.
Planning in Southwark
Start with the rules for your property, then compare projects like yours. London Borough of Southwark's planning register lets you check a neighbouring scheme's drawings, decision notice and conditions. A nearby approval can help you understand the council's approach, but different site constraints can change the outcome.
For a home in a conservation area, read the relevant conservation area appraisal alongside the Local Plan. For a listed building, check both planning permission and listed building consent. Use the council's current records to confirm the boundary and any Article 4 direction.
Planning issues to check before you apply
Use your drawings to show how the proposal addresses the site and the council's policies:
- The extension's height, depth and position relative to neighbouring windows and boundaries.
- Privacy, daylight and the amount of usable outdoor space left after the work.
- Materials, roof form and any effect on the character of a conservation area or listed building.
- Protected trees and any site-specific flood or basement constraints.
- Conditions on earlier permissions that may restrict what you can build.
This is a checklist for the proposal, not a ranking of local refusal reasons. The council's decision notice explains the reasons for an individual refusal.
Southwark council resources
Authoritative Southwark planning sources you can cross-check:
- Southwark on planning.data.gov.uk (the council entry in the national planning data platform; coverage varies by dataset)
- London Borough of Southwark planning policies (check the current Local Plan and supporting guidance)
- London Borough of Southwark planning application search (look up a specific application or see recent decisions)
Application guidance in Southwark
Southwark's Householder Development SPD was adopted in July 2025 and replaces the 2015 residential design technical update. Its householder application checklist distinguishes required drawings from supporting evidence triggered by the project, including basement and daylight assessments.
- Southwark Article 4 directions and map
- Southwark conservation areas, maps and appraisals
- Southwark householder application checklist
- Southwark Householder Development SPD (2025)
Sources reviewed . Check the source maps, wording and effective dates against your property and proposed work.
Application records to compare
Selected archive records, not a representative sample or a prediction for your address. The descriptions below are archive excerpts and may be shortened; read the original decision and plans before relying on them.
- 25/AP/3004 · Recorded approved (2026)
Replacement of existing single-storey rear extension with a new single-storey full-width rear extension, replacement of the rear dormer with two dormers at l...
Search the council register for 25/AP/3004 - 25/AP/3107 · Recorded approved (2026)
Construction of a single-storey rear extension; alterations to ground floor fenestration, including blocking up the existing door and the addition of a new w...
Search the council register for 25/AP/3107
Compare the property type, works and application route. A scheme involving flats or several alterations is not directly comparable to a simple house extension. Read the archive's coverage and limitations.
Prepare for your planning application
Questions about planning in Southwark
Do I need planning permission for my project in Southwark?
Some house extensions, loft conversions and outbuildings can use permitted development rights in Southwark, but size alone does not establish eligibility. Check the property type, previous extensions, planning conditions and the rules for the proposed work. Householder rights do not apply to flats. Conservation areas and Article 4 directions restrict particular rights; they do not automatically require an application for every change. Listed building consent is a separate requirement for works affecting a listed building's special interest.
How long does Southwark Council take to decide a planning application?
The usual statutory period for a householder planning application is 8 weeks from a valid application, unless a longer period is agreed. This is a decision period, not a measured average for Southwark. Preparing drawings and validation take additional time. Larger home extension prior approval has a 42-day procedure; other prior approval routes have different periods.
What is the planning approval rate in Southwark?
It depends on the project type. 92% of 2,018 decided single-storey rear extension applications in Southwark were approved. 86% of 1,006 decided loft conversion and dormer applications in Southwark were approved. Checked against 20.6 million UK planning applications on file across 420 planning authorities. Approval rates from 2,343,419 decisions we classified across 181 councils in England. Every project type is on the Southwark approval rates page.
Are there Article 4 directions in Southwark?
Check London Borough of Southwark's published directions for your address and proposed work. An Article 4 direction removes only the permitted development rights specified in that direction, within its defined area. Its map, wording and effective date matter. It does not mean every alteration needs a full planning application.
Read the official guidance on when permission is required, listed buildings and conservation areas and planning decision periods.
Approval rates are computed from 2,343,419 decided applications across 181 councils, published by each council. Local reference counts last reviewed 11 April 2026. The free check is guidance from the public record, not a council decision.