MCIAT chartered architectural technologists covering Harlow and the wider Essex commuter belt from our London base. Planning permission, building regulations, loft conversions, extensions and mansard roofs, 30% below typical London architect rates.
Britain's third major post-war New Town, designed as a set of self-contained neighbourhoods around a central pedestrian precinct.
All householder planning applications in Harlow are determined by Harlow District Council. The council follows the National Planning Policy Framework and its own adopted Local Plan, supported by area-specific design guides and Supplementary Planning Documents.
Conservation areas: Old Harlow, Churchgate Street and Harlow Common are conservation areas. The Gibberd Garden is Grade II registered.
Policy quirks to watch: Harlow sits at the centre of the Harlow and Gilston Garden Town, an ambitious cross-boundary growth area. Many New Town streets are under Article 4 to preserve the original Gibberd design vocabulary, restricting porch additions, window changes and front-elevation extensions.
Typical housing in Harlow includes sir Frederick Gibberd's 1947 New Town master plan: neighbourhood-based 1950s-60s estates with distinctive modernist details, plus some surviving Old Harlow period buildings and modern infill. This mix drives the types of projects we most often prepare drawings for here.
Five core services, all delivered by MCIAT chartered architectural technologists, all within our 50-mile service radius.
Full planning submission: existing/proposed plans, elevations, site plan, and Design & Access Statement.
Construction-detail drawings for your builder and Building Control submission.
Rear dormer, hip-to-gable, L-shape or mansard loft conversion drawings.
Single-storey, double-storey, wrap-around and side-return extension drawings.
Full mansard conversion drawings with structural and thermal detailing.
Every drawing is signed off by a Chartered Member of the Institute of Architectural Technologists. The same quality bar that applies to our central London projects applies to our Harlow work.
We regularly submit to all M25 commuter-belt councils including Harlow District Council. We research each council's Local Plan, design guides and recent decision history before we start drawing.
No mileage charges, no hourly rates, no surprises on the invoice.
Our submissions across the 33 London boroughs and the M25 commuter belt are prepared for council review before submission. This helps reduce avoidable resubmission risk and delay.
Rear extensions and loft conversions on Harlow's post-war and New Town estates unlock significant additional living space. Many of these houses were built with low floor-to-ceiling heights, so we carry out a careful head-height survey before confirming loft-conversion feasibility.
Harlow District Council application fees are charged separately at the statutory rate.
Planning permission drawings for Harlow.
Planning + building regulations drawings for Harlow.
Complex or listed-building projects in Harlow.
Yes. Harlow is well within our 50-mile service radius from our London office. We cover all Harlow postcodes (CM17, CM18, CM19, CM20) for planning permission drawings, building regulations drawings, loft conversions, house extensions and mansard roofs. Harlow is 25 miles from central London (35 min from London Liverpool Street), so our team can comfortably visit for measured surveys and pre-application meetings with Harlow District Council.
These prices are roughly 30% below typical London architect rates for the same scope of work. Harlow District Council application fees are charged separately at the statutory rate (£548 for a householder planning application, £274 for a Lawful Development Certificate in 2026).
Yes, every project includes an in-person measured survey at your property in Harlow. We typically combine the measured survey with an initial brief discussion on site, then return for pre-submission checks if needed. For projects that require pre-application meetings at Harlow District Council, we attend on your behalf and include the call or meeting in the fee.
Yes. While our office is in London, our MCIAT chartered architectural technologists regularly submit to councils across the M25 commuter belt, including Harlow District Council. We use the Planning Portal for submissions, so the process is identical regardless of which local planning authority handles your application. We research each council's Local Plan, design guides, and recent decision history before preparing your drawings so that the scheme aligns with their current approach.
The statutory target for a householder planning application is 8 weeks from validation. Harlow District Council generally meets this target for straightforward applications, although conservation area or listed building consents can take longer. Pre-application advice typically takes 4–6 weeks. From initial instruction to final decision, expect 10–16 weeks for a typical residential project in Harlow.
MCIAT chartered. council-ready drawing review.
