Planning Application
Services London

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A STRATEGIC APPROACH

Expertly Navigating Your Path to Planning Success

Securing Planning Permission London is the most critical gateway your project must pass through before construction can begin. It is a formal, often complex process where the local council assesses your proposed design against a detailed set of local and national policies. A successful application requires more than just beautiful drawings; it demands a deep understanding of planning law, a strategic approach to design, and a compelling case that justifies your proposal.

At Reltic, we see the planning phase not as a hurdle, but as an opportunity to demonstrate the quality and thoughtfulness of your project. Our in-house team of architects and planning experts has an exceptional track record of achieving Successful Planning Applications across all London boroughs. We manage the entire process on your behalf, from initial strategy and design to the final submission and communication with the council. Our meticulous, expert-led approach is designed to de-risk this crucial stage, giving your project the strongest possible foundation for approval.

Planning Application London
UNDERSTANDING THE SYSTEM

What is a Planning Application?

A planning application is a formal request submitted to your local council for permission to carry out certain types of building work on your property.

The planning system exists to control the development and use of land and buildings in the public interest. It aims to balance the rights of homeowners to develop their property with the community’s interest in protecting local character, amenities, and the environment. A council’s planning department will assess your application against their ‘Local Plan’, which outlines policies on everything from design aesthetics and residential density to parking and biodiversity.

A well-prepared application is essentially a persuasive argument. It must clearly demonstrate how your proposed development complies with these policies. This is achieved through a comprehensive set of Planning Application drawings, detailed written statements, and sometimes supplementary reports from other consultants. The role of your Planning Application architects London is to build this compelling case, presenting your project in the most positive light to planners and addressing any potential concerns before they become obstacles.

OUR SERVICES

A Complete Service for Every Type of Application

Our expertise covers the full spectrum of residential planning applications, from straightforward householder submissions to complex applications for listed buildings.

The Dormer Loft Conversion
Householder Applications

This is the most common type of application for an existing home. A Householder Planning Application is used for projects like house extensions or loft conversions that exceed Permitted Development rights. We produce all necessary drawings and statements to show how your proposal enhances your home while respecting your neighbours and the local area.

The Velux (Rooflight) Conversion
Full Applications

A Full Planning Application is required for more significant projects, such as creating a new, separate dwelling (e.g., building a new house in a garden) or converting a single property into multiple flats. This is a far more detailed and heavily scrutinised process, often requiring a wider range of complex supporting documents. Our expert team has extensive experience in managing these very challenging applications for our clients.

The Dormer Loft Conversion
Listed Buildings

If your property is a listed building, any work affecting its special architectural or historic character requires Listed Building Consent, in addition to standard planning permission. This is a highly specialised area. We have the expertise to design sensitive interventions and prepare detailed heritage statements needed to justify the work to conservation officers.

The Velux (Rooflight) Conversion
Conservation Areas

Properties within a Conservation Area are subject to stricter planning controls to protect the character of the neighbourhood. Permitted Development rights are often removed, meaning even smaller alterations may require permission. We are adept at designing schemes that are sympathetic to the area’s special character, ensuring a positive response from the local authority.

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THE RELTIC ADVANTAGE

A Design & Build Approach to Planning

Our integrated model gives us a unique advantage, allowing us to create designs that are not only beautiful but are also inherently practical, viable, and more likely to succeed at planning.

As a fully integrated Design and Build London firm, our architects do not design in a vacuum. They work alongside our in-house cost estimators and construction managers from the earliest stages. The benefit of this is that every design we propose for planning has already been assessed for its real-world buildability and cost-effectiveness. This means we can confidently justify the practicality of our schemes to planning officers, and you can be sure that the design you are seeking permission for is one that can be delivered on budget. This synergy between design and construction knowledge is a key factor behind our high rate of Successful Planning Applications.

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DESIGN-LED PLANNING

A Strategic Approach to Planning

Our approach to planning isn’t just about ticking boxes. We use the process as an opportunity to create a more valuable, beautiful, and functional home for you.

Maximising Space and Value

  • Our design-led process goes beyond simple compliance to ensure we achieve the best possible outcome for your property.

Enhancing Architectural Quality

  • We use high-quality, considered design as a tool to achieve planning success, as councils are more likely to approve a beautifully resolved scheme.

Proactive Problem Solving

  • Our experts anticipate and solve potential planning issues like overlooking or right-to-light before submission, ensuring a smoother application process.

Future-Proofing Your Property

  • We help you consider a long-term masterplan, ensuring that today's planning approval doesn't restrict your property's potential for future projects.

See your home in 3D before we build

Before any design or construction work begins, we start with a detailed digital survey of your property. Using advanced scanning tools, we capture accurate measurements and convert them into a precise 3D model – known as Scan to BIM.

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This process allows you to:

Explore Our Virtual Tours

Our 3D scanning technology doesn’t just support design and construction – it also creates stunning virtual tours. Whether you’re planning, promoting or presenting a space, we deliver high-resolution digital walkthroughs straight from the same scan used for your BIM model.

Reltic -Explore Our Virtual Tours
RESTAURANTS
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FLATS
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HOTELS
" Working with Reltic BIM was an absolute pleasure from start to finish. Their professionalism, clear communication, and forward-thinking use of BIM technology truly set them apart from other firms we've worked with in the past. "
Jake Williamson
" We recently used Reltic for loft conversion and they were extremely throughout and we would recommend them highly to anyone else looking for an honest, reliable and hard working team to transform their loft. "
David Klane
" I have taken Reltic's services twice in recent times. They have very professional service, provide a detailed report and excellent customer service. All my queries and calls were answered quickly. Highly recommended. "
James Patterson
" Working with Adrian is always a pleasure, and I won't ever use another estimator. Each task was completed quickly and precisely. always outperforms bids and prices from competitors. Highly recommended! "
Rob Durham
" Professional individuals. They give exactly what they promise because they are skilled at what they do. You can trust these individuals with all of your work, as they are incredibly dependable and polite, in my opinion. "
Sara Brown
YOUR QUESTIONS

FAQ About Permitted Development

Find clear answers to common questions about the rules, benefits, and process of using your PD rights in London.

No. While the core rights are set nationally, they can be restricted by individual London boroughs through something called an 'Article 4 Direction'. This is common in Conservation Areas, where councils may remove PD rights to protect the character of the area. We always conduct a thorough check of your local council's policies as the first step.

The statutory timeframe for a council to determine an LDC application is 8 weeks. This is significantly faster than the 8-13 weeks often required for a full planning application, and the process is generally more straightforward as the council is only verifying compliance, not making a subjective judgement on the design.

Yes, but you must use materials of a "similar appearance" to those used in the existing house. For example, the brickwork and roof tiles of an extension should match the main property. This is a key criterion for a House Extension under Permitted Development.

If your proposed design exceeds the PD limits in any way - even by a few centimetres - it loses its Permitted Development rights and will require a full planning permission application. As expert London architects for Permitted Development, we can advise you on whether it's better to slightly reduce the design to comply with PD, or to pursue a full planning application to achieve your full ambitions.

 

Yes, absolutely. Permitted Development and Building Regulations are two completely separate approvals. PD relates to planning (the size and appearance), while Building Regulations relate to the technical construction (safety, structural integrity, energy efficiency). All our projects are designed to comply fully with both.

For larger rear extensions (between 3-6m for a terraced/semi-detached house), you are required to undertake the Neighbour Consultation Scheme. This involves the council formally notifying your adjoining neighbours of your plans. For other PD projects, there is no formal requirement to consult neighbours, but we always recommend informing them as a courtesy.

Permitted Development provides a route for approval, but it doesn't guarantee a good design. The benefit of using an architect is that we can creatively design the best possible space within the PD rules. We can maximise light and flow, solve complex layout puzzles, and produce the detailed technical drawings required for both the LDC application and the construction itself, ensuring a high-quality, expertly designed home.

LET’S DISCUSS NEXT PROJECTS

This is the first step to discovering what you can build under your home’s Permitted Development Rights. Please use the form below to provide your property details and a brief outline of what you hope to achieve.

The more detail we have, the more effectively we can assess your options during our initial, no-obligation conversation. A member of our specialist planning team will be in touch within one working day to schedule your free Permitted Development assessment.

    Reltic is a design and build studio creating smart, beautifully crafted homes.

    Contact Info

    020 3576 2851

    office@reltic.co

    Office Address

    4th Floor, Silverstream House, 45 Fitzroy St, London W1T 6EB

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