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Planning applications

Last updated 21 May 2013

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If a resident is thinking of making alterations to their house/flat they will need to consult the planning section to see if they require planning permission. Applicants will need planning permission if the applicant's property is a listed building, if the applicant is planning to alter or extend their home, if there is a change of use (working from home) and no longer a main home or if the applicant is interested in putting up a new home.

Search for planning applications and appeals

Look for planning applications in your area by selecting the planning applications option under Places and Services in My Place.

Planning Explorer issues

The Planning Explorer has a number of technical issues which we are working closely with our suppliers to fix.

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Walthamstow Greyhound Stadium

View the Draft Section 106 document, as referred to GLA on 11 October 2012

Before submitting your application

Read the read the planning advice and guidance page, design and access statements and see the national and local requirements for validation below.

Planning application fees

Changes to planning application fees

On Thursday 22 November 2012 the planning application fees are increasing. See the Department for Communities and Local Government letter (36KB PDF file)
 

To calculate the cost of an application see the Planning Portal. Payment can be made using the online payments system or by cheque. Cheques must be made payable to the "London Borough of Waltham Forest" and submitted with the application.

National and local requirements for validation

Different types and scale of application require different levels of information and supporting documentation to be submitted. In all cases the local planning authority specify the requirements. Under the new arrangements. These comprise a national core list that will apply in all cases, and additional items specified locally.

The national list sets out statutory requirements for applications. These requirements include the completed application form; the correct fee (where one is necessary); ownership certificates; agricultural holdings certificate; Design and Access Statement (where one is necessary); the location plan; other plans and drawings or information necessary to describe the subject of the application and environmental statement (where one is necessary).

View the National requirement lists, which came into effect on 6 April 2008 (72KB PDF file)
Note: these are set by Central Government

The local list comprises additional information that local planning authorities can require to validate an application. It is intended that the combined use of the national and local list will afford both the authority and applicant more certainty about the type of information required at the outset and help to ensure that the information requested is proportionate to the type and scale of application being made.

View the Waltham Forest Council's local validation requirements (187KB PDF file)

View the list of local validation requirements (122KB PDF file)

Planning application and other application forms

The standard application forms are the only legal method of submitting most planning applications. The standard planning application forms are available online via the Planning Portal or alternatively download:

Householder applications

Read a brief guide to home extensions and alterations (3.2MB PDF file)

Full planning permission

Outline planning permission

Conservation area and listed building consent

Consent to display an advertisement(s)

Consent to display an advertisement and listed building consent

Application to display an advertisement - not currently available - under review

Lawful Development Certificate for an existing use or development

Lawful Development Certificate for a proposed use or development

Prior notification by telecommunications code systems operators

Prior notification of proposed demolition

Approval of reserved matters

Removal or variation of a condition following grant of planning permission or reserved application

Works to trees subject to a Tree Preservation Order and/or notification of proposed works to trees in Conservation Areas

Listed building consent for alterations, extensions or demolition of a listed building and consent to display an advertisement(s)

  • Not currently available - under review

Hazardous substances consent

Extending the time limits of existing planning permissions

Application for non-material amendments following planning permission

Ownership certificates

It is a legal requirement that owners of land upon which a planning, a listed building consent or a conservation area consent application is being made are notified of that application. The term owner means a person having a freehold interest or a leasehold interest the unexpired term of which is not less than seven years. There can therefore be more than one owner (for example, the landlord and any tenants). If there was a change of ownership in the three weeks before an application is made, then the previous owners must be notified of the application in the same way as current owners.

If the applicant is the only owner of all the land involved in the application then the Certificate A on the main application form should be signed. If the applicant is not the only owner then you must complete one of the following certificates in the Ownership Certificate Form:

  • Certificate B is completed if you know the names and addresses of all the other owners of the land involved in the application
  • Certificate C is completed if you know the names and addresses of some, but not all, the other owners of the land involved in the application
  • Certificate D is completed if you do not know the names and addresses of any of the other owners of the land involved in the application

With Certificates B and C you have to serve a Notice on the owner(s) that you know the names of, telling him/her that you are making the planning application.

For Certificates C and D you have to advertise the fact that you are making the application in the local press, and that you do not know the owner(s) of some or all of the land. You must send a copy of the published notice to us with your application forms.

When you have to serve a Notice on an owner, and you know their name and address, you may hand it personally to them, or send it by registered post or recorded delivery. If you have to serve a Notice on an organisation, you must address it to the Secretary or Clerk of the organisation at their registered or principal office.

Please note that anyone whom knowingly or recklessly issues a certificate that contains any statement that is false or misleading is liable to a fine if convicted. The Courts can quash any planning permission subsequently granted.

Article 4 directions

Conservation Areas are "areas of special architectural or historic interest, the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance". The designation of such areas however does not automatically mean that the Council has additional powers to achieve these ends. Normally a householder can make modest changes to their property without having first to apply for planning permission. This is known as 'permitted development' and is defined in the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 (as amended). It includes the replacement of windows, doors, roof coverings, the construction of small extensions, porches, hard standings etc.

The character and appearance of many Conservation Areas has sadly already been partly eroded by unsympathetic changes and the loss of traditional building features. Such alterations include the replacement of traditional doors and windows, removal of chimneystacks, painting of previously unpainted brickwork, removal of boundary walls etc. Although relatively minor changes, cumulatively these alterations significantly detract from the character and appearance of a Conservation Area. Under normal planning powers it is impossible for this to be adequately controlled.

Article 4(2) Directions - Local Planning Authorities however have powers to remove certain 'permitted development' rights by making Article 4(2) Directions. Once a Direction has been served, planning permission is required for those classes of development listed. Such Directions only affect dwelling houses in single occupation (i.e. not subdivided into flats or with individual rooms let to tenants), and only those elevations that front onto a highway or open space (including side elevations of corner properties). Flats, shops, offices and other commercial buildings, and houses in multiple occupation, do not have the benefit of permitted development rights and so are already required to apply for planning permission for changes such as those listed below.

With an Article 4(2) Direction in place, planning permission will be required for:

  • The enlargement, improvement or other alteration of a dwellinghouse i.e. changes to windows, doors, roof coverings, chimneys, rainwater goods etc
  • Alterations to roofs that materially affect the shape of a dwellinghouse
  • The erection of a front porch
  • The provision of a hard standing
  • The installation, alteration or replacement of a satellite antenna
  • The erection, alteration or removal of a chimney on a dwellinghouse or on a building within the curtilage
  • The erection, alteration or demolition of a front gate, fence, wall or other means of enclosure within the front garden, or a side boundary facing the road
  • The painting of a dwellinghouse (apart from like-for-like repainting)

The Article 4(2) Direction Schedule for your Conservation Area sets out the classes of development for which planning permission is now required.

As a general guide, planning permission will not normally be granted to replace traditional features with modern replicas, or to use substitute materials such as aluminium or plastic windows, or concrete roof tiles. Applications for alterations that would not preserve or enhance the character or appearance of the Conservation Area will normally be recommended for refusal.

You do not need planning permission for repairs provided they are carried out in a traditional manner repeating the details of the original elements involved and using the same materials. You can also replace minor worn out elements without permission provided the replacements are like-for-like.

Planning fees

There are no fees payable to the Council for any planning application required solely as a result of an Article 4(2) Direction.

Further information and contacts

Further information and advice can be obtained from the Urban Design team and from the Spatial Planning team. A Duty Planning Officer is available between 10am and 4pm Monday to Friday. To contact the Duty Planning Officer please phone (020) 8496 3000 or call into our reception at Sycamore House, Waltham Forest Council, Forest Road, London E17 4JF. Reception opening times are Monday to Thursday 9am to 5.15pm, and Friday 9am to 5pm. The offices are closed on Bank and Public Holidays.

Fax 020 8596 6902
Email dcmail@walthamforest.gov.uk.

Weekly planning application lists

The weekly planning applications lists for the last three months submitted to the Council are published below:

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

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