What is a planning or building regulations application?
Planning permission decides whether a project can be built; building regulations decide how it must be built. Most extensions, lofts and conversions need building regulations approval even when planning permission is not required.
How much does a planning or building regulations application cost in Clapham?
In Clapham, a planning or building regulations application typically costs £1,000–£3,250 for application management (council fees extra), including VAT at 20% (standard rate; planning application fees carry no VAT, council building control fees include VAT). That range is adjusted for London, where domestic building work typically costs around 30% above the national average. Council application fees are extra.
| Size or type | Guide range |
|---|---|
| Application management (council fees extra) | £1,000–£3,250 |
| Larger or more complex projects | £3,250–£4,000 |
Your quote will depend mainly on:
- Type of application
- Revisions requested by the council
- Council fees
- Planning conditions
A guide range is only a starting point: the guide price tool gives an instant figure for your size, and a free survey turns it into a fixed quote.
Planning and building regulations in Clapham
Whether you need planning permission depends on your house and its location in England. In England householder applications, lawful development certificates and prior approvals for larger home extensions go to the local planning authority. Building control can be the council or a registered building control approver.
Where work involves a shared wall, building on the boundary, or digging foundations within 3 metres of a neighbour’s building and deeper than its foundations (or within 6 metres for deeper work), the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 applies and notices must be served before work starts.
We check this for your address before design work starts, so there are no surprises later.
What we handle
The work we manage on a planning or building regulations application:
- Party wall notices
- Discharge of planning conditions
- Permitted development assessment
- Build-over agreements with the water company
- Prior approval (larger home extension) in England
- Lawful development certificate applications
How long does it take?
Allow about 8 weeks for a householder planning decision (two months in Scotland). If the drawings are for a planning application, add the council’s decision period once they are submitted.
Building in Clapham
Many London boroughs have conservation areas and detailed design guides, so early design advice saves time at the planning stage.
We work across Clapham and neighbouring areas such as Balham, Battersea and Brixton. Postcodes we cover in Clapham include SW4.
How it works
- 01
Survey and brief
We visit, talk through what you want and record the existing building.
- 02
Design options
Sketch layouts to agree the approach before detailed drawing starts.
- 03
Drawings and documents
The drawings and forms the council and building control need.
- 04
Submission and follow-up
We submit the application and deal with questions from the council or building control.
Questions about planning and building regulations applications in Clapham
How much does a planning or building regulations application cost in Clapham?
In Clapham, a planning or building regulations application typically costs £1,000–£3,250 for application management (council fees extra), including VAT at 20% (standard rate; planning application fees carry no VAT, council building control fees include VAT). Your fixed price depends on the survey and drawings.
Who carries out building control?
Either the council’s building control service or, in England and Wales, a private building control body registered to do the work. In Scotland and Northern Ireland building control is provided by the council.
What happens if I build without approval?
The council can take enforcement action, and missing approvals cause problems when selling. It is always better to get approvals first.
What is a lawful development certificate?
A certificate from the council confirming that a project is permitted development. It is optional but useful when selling the house.
Do you handle planning and building regulations applications in Clapham?
Yes. We handle planning and building regulations applications across Clapham, including postcodes SW4. Every project starts with a free home visit.