Do I need
planning permission?
We can tell you in 23 seconds.
Pay only on approval. From £995 per application.
For eligible homeowner projects. Scope and fixed fee agreed before instruction. See pricing and eligibility.
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.
What is included at each stage
Phase 1 planning: standard single-storey rear or side extensions from £995; loft conversions from £1,495. Paid only when you are approved. Building regulations is a separate later stage, quoted individually and paid on instruction. Council and Portal fees are paid separately at submission. Refused under an agreed pay-on-approval service? No planning design fee to pay.
The £995 starting price is for a standard single-storey rear or side extension at one existing home. Loft conversions start from £1,495. Both prices cover phase 1 planning only. We agree the scope and fixed fee before instruction; combined, complex and developer projects are quoted individually. See how your quote is set.
Planning new homes or a conversion? See our service for small residential developers.
- Phase 1: planning drawings, paid on approval
Design drawings for your planning or permitted development application, the application prepared and submitted for you, and council queries and amendments for the agreed scheme handled through to decision. Paid only when the council approves.
- Phase 2: building regulations, quoted separately
A measured survey of your property, building regulations drawings, structural engineer calculations, and party wall notices for your neighbours where they are needed. Paid on instruction if you go on to build. The survey, structural and notice requirements are confirmed in your quote.
- Council and Portal fees
The council application charge and the Portal’s service charge are paid separately at submission to the relevant provider. So are building control inspection fees when you build.
What the council charges
Application charges are separate from our design fee and depend on the application route. The Portal has its own service charge when you submit through it.
- Householder application
- £548
- Proposed lawful development certificate for equivalent householder works
- £274
- Planning Portal service charge
- Check the current Portal charge
The council figures shown are April 2026 rates for the stated application types in England, subject to exemptions and concessions. Existing-development certificates and other projects have different fees. Pre-application advice is priced locally. We confirm the applicable charges before submission.
What happens if you are refused
Your planning design fee
£0
if your application is refused under an agreed pay-on-approval service.
You keep copies of your drawings
We explain the officer’s reasons and whether changing the scheme could address them, or whether it cannot be taken forward. Your written agreement sets out any reuse rights.
Council and Portal charges are separate
These are paid at submission. The council’s application fee is not normally refunded after a refusal.
Read the pay-on-approval termsApproval rates near you
See how councils have decided applications in our archive. These historical rates describe past projects, not the chance of approval for your own design.
| Council | Approved | Decided since 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| England, single storey rear | 84% | 98,277 |
| England, loft and dormer | 79% | 21,332 |
| Southwark | 93% | 5,310 |
| Wandsworth | 91% | 9,074 |
| Hammersmith and Fulham | 94% | 4,800 |
| Camden | 92% | 4,583 |
| Kensington and Chelsea | 91% | 7,813 |
Recent projects
33 projects live, 46 approved-
Loft conversion
In progressRear dormer with en-suite, Walthamstow, E17
Build cost£58,000 -
Rear extension
Contract sent4m single storey with roof lantern, Tooting, SW17
Build cost£54,000 -
Side return extension
In progress2.1m x 6.5m with skylights, Leyton, E10
Build cost£46,000 -
Two storey extension
SubmittedRear 3m over two floors, Croydon, CR2
Build cost£96,000 -
Loft conversion
Under reviewHip-to-gable with rear dormer, Ealing, W7
Build cost£74,000 -
Rear extension
Submitted6m prior approval with bi-folds, Enfield, EN2
Build cost£66,000 -
Loft conversion
On siteL-shaped dormer, two bedrooms, Catford, SE6
Build cost£68,000 -
Change of use
Under reviewShop to flat (Class MA), Walworth, SE17
Build cost£85,000 -
Outbuilding
On siteGarden office 5m x 3m, Twickenham, TW2
Build cost£22,000
Phase 1 planning for eligible homeowner projects: standard rear or side extensions from £995; loft conversions from £1,495, paid only when you are approved. Drawings, application and submission included.
Where we work
We are based in London. Our published homeowner offer and free check cover England; contact us about work elsewhere in the UK. Our approval-rate archive contains 2,343,419 decision records across 181 councils. Find your council.
From the guides
- Two-storey extension planning permission and PD rulesUnderstand two-storey extension permitted development in England, including rear limits, boundaries, roof design and when an application is needed.
- Side extension planning permission and permitted developmentUnderstand side extension permitted development in England, including width, height, conservation areas and combined side and rear extensions.
- Does a rear extension need planning permission?Understand permitted development, larger home extension prior approval and planning applications in England, then check your address and local decisions.
Questions people ask
Do I need planning permission for my extension?
It depends on your property type, where it is and how big the extension is. Most single storey rear extensions up to 3m on a terrace or semi, or 4m on a detached house, fall under permitted development and need no planning application. Conservation areas, Article 4 directions, listed buildings and flats have stricter rules. The free check reads the rules for your address in 23 seconds.
Is the check really free?
Yes. No account, no card. You enter your address and a WhatsApp number, and the result is on screen straight away with WhatsApp available to discuss next steps. You pay only if you go on to instruct drawings, and the planning stage is paid only when you are approved.
How much do planning drawings cost?
Phase 1 planning: standard single-storey rear or side extensions from £995; loft conversions from £1,495. Paid only when you are approved. Building regulations is a separate later stage, quoted individually and paid on instruction. Refused? No design fee to pay. Council and Portal fees are paid separately at submission.
What does paid on approval mean?
The agreed planning fee falls due when the council grants planning permission, prior approval or a lawful development certificate for the submitted scheme, with or without conditions. If the council refuses, there is no design fee to pay. The full definition is on the terms page.
Where does the approval rate come from?
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. The rate is by project type in your council and near your address. Where a council has decided too few applications of your type for a fair rate, the check says so instead of showing a number.
How long does planning permission take?
The usual statutory period is eight weeks for a valid householder application and thirteen weeks for major development, unless a longer period is agreed. Larger home extension prior approval has a 42-day procedure; other prior approval routes differ. Design, validation and conditions take additional time.
What is the difference between permitted development and planning permission?
Permitted development is a set of national rules that let you extend without a planning application, as long as you stay within set size and design limits. A planning application is needed when the work does not qualify. An Article 4 direction restricts the particular rights and area it specifies, not necessarily every alteration. Some PD routes still require prior approval.
Do you work outside London?
We are based in London. The published homeowner offer and free check cover England. For work elsewhere in the UK, contact us to confirm the service, local requirements and fee before instruction. Your quote identifies the information and surveys needed for the proposed work.