Free planning check
Free Tower Hamlets planning permission check
Check in 23 seconds whether your Tower Hamlets project needs planning permission, and what the council has approved near you. Phase 1 planning drawings: standard rear or side extensions from £995 and loft conversions from £1,495, 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.
Tower Hamlets 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 | 81% | 1,198 |
| Two-storey rear extension | 76% | 262 |
| Wraparound extension | 79% | 81 |
| Side extension | 78% | 202 |
| Loft conversion and dormer | 75% | 828 |
| Rooflight | 86% | 535 |
| Outbuilding and garden room | 79% | 120 |
| Porch | 87% | 143 |
| Garage conversion | 97% | 86 |
| Basement | 88% | 1,061 |
| Window and door | 89% | 2,232 |
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 Withdrawn and undecided records are excluded.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 Tower Hamlets approval rates.
Application guidance in Tower Hamlets
Tower Hamlets sets out supporting information by application type in its local validation list. For heritage-sensitive proposals, use its conservation map and document guidance to investigate the site's setting and required evidence. Confirm the current authority for sites near former development-corporation boundaries.
- Tower Hamlets Article 4 directions
- Tower Hamlets direction datasets
- Tower Hamlets conservation areas and map
- Tower Hamlets application validation requirements
Sources reviewed . Check the source maps, wording and effective dates against your property and proposed work.
What reviewed local decisions show
These examples use official planning records. Each identifies the decision date and links to the evidence reviewed. They are not Planning Approvals projects or a prediction for another property.
31 Birdsfield Lane: a rear dormer was prominent from another street
PA/25/00373 · APP/E5900/D/25/3368697 · Appeal dismissed, 9 September 2025
The proposed dormer faced Barge Lane within the Victoria Park Conservation Area. Its bulk would interrupt a largely unaltered terrace roofline and did not fit the neighbouring building’s roof. The inspector found no public benefit that outweighed the heritage harm.
What to check: Check views from streets behind the house as well as its front. A rear-facing roof addition can still be prominent in a conservation area; this was a planning appeal, not a PD certificate.
Read the appeal decision (PDF)
Related guidance: Loft conversions and PD
5 Cartwright Street: varied roof heights supported an extra floor
PA/23/02367 · APP/E5900/D/24/3343009 · Appeal allowed with conditions, 19 August 2024
The inspector allowed another floor because the modern estate already contained differing roof heights and angles, and the extension would remain proportionate. The site was not visible from the adjacent conservation area. Permission was subject to approved plans, a time limit and matching materials.
What to check: Use the immediate roofscape as evidence. A planning approval does not replace building-regulations checks: staircase headroom was treated separately in this appeal.
Read the appeal decision (PDF)
Related guidance: Loft conversions and PD
Check the planning register for the issued notice, exact conditions and any later appeal or revised application. A committee resolution is not a substitute for those documents.
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.
- PA/25/00734/NC · Recorded approved (2026)
Proposed works include:Alterations to existing extended front elevation to provide a reduced width and centralised glazed main entrance with perforated secur...
Open the council record for PA/25/00734/NC - PA/25/01537/NC · Recorded refused (2026)
The proposed demolition of a rear extension, external works including vegetation removal, masonry repairs, roof replacement, alterations to the boundary trea...
Open the council record for PA/25/01537/NC
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.
Tower Hamlets planning resources
Check the authority's current records for the property's planning history, application requirements and local restrictions.
Prepare for your planning application
Questions about planning in Tower Hamlets
Do I need planning permission for my project in Tower Hamlets?
Some house extensions, loft conversions and outbuildings can use permitted development rights in Tower Hamlets, 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.
What is the planning approval rate in Tower Hamlets?
It depends on the project type. 81% of 1,198 decided single-storey rear extension applications in Tower Hamlets were approved. 75% of 828 decided loft conversion and dormer applications in Tower Hamlets 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 Tower Hamlets approval rates page.
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. The free check is guidance from the public record, not a council decision.