Architects in Chiswick

Planning permission is formal permission from a local authority for the alteration or erection of buildings. It can be granted, based on certain conditions being met, or refused.

Conservation areas exist to protect the special architectural and historic interests of an area. Planning applications are considered in regard to conservation policies as local authorities must take into account the need to preserve or enhance the area when deciding whether to grant planning permission.

Applying for planning permission in a Conservation Area (CA) requires more detailed supporting information than an equivalent application outside of a CA.

A robust and carefully considered proposal that demonstrates an awareness and response to local policy and design guidance will stand a much greater chance of success.

The Hounslow Conservation Area audits and planning guides are available here. These guides are a material consideration at the planning stage and provide some direction on what is and isn’t possible in terms of design alterations.

There are around 26 designated conservation areas in the London Borough of Hounslow. These areas include Bedfont Green, Chiswick High Road, Chiswick House, Grand Union Canal & Boston Manor, Kew Bridge, Osterley Park & Stamford Brook, etc.

Check if your property is located within a conservation area at hounslow.gov.uk.

It is your responsibility to decide whether or not planning permission is required and submitting an application where relevant. 

Information on online planning applications, the documents you will need, validation checklists and fees for the London Borough of Hounslow are available here.

Need expert advice on planning permission? With a proven track record and a 100% success rate at planning, let us navigate the planning process for you.

As experts in the field, we know how to manage risk and identify opportunities that pave the way to a successful planning application. Find out more.

Applications usually take between six to eight weeks, but this could be longer depending on the complexity of the proposed project.

Read our more in-depth guide on how long it takes to be granted planning permission.

Provided that no complications arise while reviewing your application, your local authority will email/post a decision notice to you.

If applying online, you can check the status of your application through the council’s planning application search, or wait until you or your agent receive the decision by post.

By law, you usually have three years from the time of approval to implement planning permission and begin development. If you haven’t started any planned works within the set timeframe, your application will be considered ‘expired’. At this point, the planning permission is no longer valid and you will likely need to reapply.

Read our full guide on planning permission expiry here.

If your planning application is rejected or you are not satisfied with the conditions of your planning permission, you have the right to appeal to the Planning Inspectorate.

The appeal will be considered by a planning inspector appointed by the Secretary of State. While most appeals are handled in writing, some are decided by a hearing and some after a public inquiry.

You can search for appeals in the RBKC appeal search.

1) No Ordnance Survey Map (OS Map)

2) Incorrect or no fee

3) Failure to send an appropriate flood risk assessment

4) Failure to send an appropriate design and access statement

5) Failure to send a construction method statement for basement and/or light well excavation

It is important to distinguish between an extension that necessitates a detailed planning application and one that falls under Permitted Development (PD).

If your planned works fall under the former category you do not need explicit permission from the local authority and a planning application will not be necessary.

In this case, though, we would recommend that a Certificate of Lawfulness of Proposed Use or Development (CLOPUD) is sought from the local authority in order to create a formal record of the works and their legitimacy.

Read our guide on further planning & regulations and Article 4 directions.

The local authority fee for a Householder planning application is £206.

Fees are determined by local authorities on the assessment of a planning application and the scale and nature of your proposed development.

You’ll also need to allow for the fees of an architect, other consultants and specialist surveys. Read more about the costs involved here.

A downloadable guide on fees for planning applications is available here. There is also a free-to-use planning fee calculator.

A listed building is a building that has been placed on the Statutory List of Special Architectural or Historic Interest.

Buildings on this list may not be demolished, extended or altered without listed building consent.

Applying for listed building consent requires yet more detailed supporting information than an equivalent application for a non-listed building.

To increase the chances of a successful application, rigorous research and documentation of the property’s historical significance are required from the outset and this would form a Heritage Statement in support of the application.

In developing our design proposals for a listed building, we will identify and catalogue every aspect of the scheme that impacts the building. Some aspects will have a positive impact on the historic nature of the property (such as reinstating lost or damaged historic features) whilst others will be deemed to have a negative impact (such as erosion of the original cellular plan form by opening up spaces).

This catalogue of positive and negative impacts forms the backbone of a Heritage Impact Assessment that will also support the application for planning & listed building consent.

Ultimately, this is a fine-tuned balancing act and the aim of the game is to demonstrate that, whilst there may be some negative impacts, these are outweighed by more positive ones so that on balance the scheme can be viewed as positive.

We will often work with specialist heritage consultants to identify opportunities and constraints and develop proposals that balance and respond to these.

There are around 540 listed buildings in the London Borough of Hounslow. Search Historic England listed register to find listed buildings near you.

Learn more about our listed building consent services here.

To search for planning applications submitted in your area, visit the hounslow.gov.uk application search here.

We begin every project with a ‘Project Discovery’ stage – an architectural feasibility service. We research planning history and precedent in the local area, coupled with relevant local planning policy and design guides to identify constraints and opportunities.

We also provide the tools you need to plan and embark on a successful project, offering informed opinions on your ideas and guidance on project scope, priorities and budget.