Architectural drawings in SM5

Which SM5 postcodes does this drawing package service cover?

Every SM5 postcode district we draw in, the stock that dominates it and the authority that validates a drawing package there. SM5 fees below are the statutory England rates for 2026, not drawing package estimates.

What changes about a drawing package in each part of SM5?

Roof pitch, wall build-up and plot depth change every few SM5 streets, and each one changes what a drawing package can achieve at that address.

• Inside SM5: Carshalton (SM5) — a drawing package in Carshalton starts from victorian terraces, georgian villas, and Carshalton reads as Victorian and Georgian village. in SM5. Sutton Council assesses Carshalton architectural drawings against its own Carshalton character guidance, and the location plan we draw for Carshalton references Carshalton Ponds.
• Bordering SM5: Sutton (SM1) — a drawing package in Sutton starts from edwardian terraces, 1930s semi-detached, and Sutton reads as Edwardian centre, 1930s residential. in SM1. Sutton Council assesses Sutton architectural drawings against its own Sutton character guidance, and the location plan we draw for Sutton references Sutton High Street.
• Bordering SM5: Cheam (SM2, SM3) — a drawing package in Cheam starts from georgian villas, 1930s semi-detached, and Cheam reads as Georgian village, 1930s semi-detached. in SM2. Sutton Council assesses Cheam architectural drawings against its own Cheam character guidance, and the location plan we draw for Cheam references Cheam Village.
• Bordering SM5: Wallington (SM6) — a drawing package in Wallington starts from edwardian villas, 1930s semi-detached, and Wallington reads as Edwardian villas, 1930s semi-detached. in SM6. Sutton Council assesses Wallington architectural drawings against its own Wallington character guidance, and the location plan we draw for Wallington references Wallington station.
• Bordering SM5: Worcester Park (KT4) — drawing package work in Worcester Park means 1930s semi-detached. Worcester Park is 1930s semi-detached. Sutton Council decides the Worcester Park application, and Worcester Park station anchors the Worcester Park location plan.
• Bordering SM5: Belmont (SM2) — drawing package work in Belmont means 1930s semi-detached. Belmont is 1930s semi-detached. Sutton Council decides the Belmont application, and Belmont station anchors the Belmont location plan.
• Bordering SM5: Hackbridge (SM6) — a drawing package in Hackbridge starts from edwardian terraces, post-war, and Hackbridge reads as Edwardian terraces, post-war. in SM6. Sutton Council assesses Hackbridge architectural drawings against its own Hackbridge character guidance, and the location plan we draw for Hackbridge references Hackbridge station.

What local planning policy applies to a drawing package in SM5?

How designation changes a SM5 (Carshalton) drawing package: Sutton Council maintains 17 conservation areas, including Cheam Village, Sutton Central, Carshalton Village. Inside any of them a SM5 (Carshalton) drawing package cannot rely on permitted development, and the route becomes a £548 householder application determined in 8 weeks rather than a £249 prior approval in 6 weeks. Carshalton Village sets the tone for SM5 (Carshalton) casework.

SM5 (Carshalton) permitted development status: there is no borough-wide direction from Sutton Council, so a drawing package at a SM5 address is normally still permitted development. We certify that with a £274 Lawful Development Certificate rather than leaving a SM5 (Carshalton) sale to argue it later.

The building fabric around SM5 (Carshalton): 1930s semi-detached dominates; Edwardian terraces and villas in Sutton central; Victorian cottages in Carshalton; post-war in Hackbridge. Outer south London suburban; generally permissive; Carshalton and Cheam conservation areas add heritage in pockets. A drawing package in SM5 (Carshalton) is scoped against that stock first, because it decides whether the scheme runs as permitted development, a £274 Lawful Development Certificate, or a full £548 application to Sutton Council.

Which neighbouring authorities border SM5?

• Merton — cross the SM5 (Carshalton) boundary and Merton Council takes the drawing package instead, applying 28 conservation areas of its own around SW16. We re-price architectural drawings at the SM5 (Carshalton) edge because Merton policy and Sutton policy rarely align on drawing package depth.
• Croydon — adjoining SM5 (Carshalton), with 24 conservation areas centred on CR0. A drawing package on the far side of the SM5 (Carshalton) line is determined by Croydon Council, so the SM5 (Carshalton) quote for architectural drawings is checked against Croydon guidance before it is issued.
• Kingston upon Thames — cross the SM5 (Carshalton) boundary and Kingston Council takes the drawing package instead, applying 22 conservation areas of its own around KT1. We re-price architectural drawings at the SM5 (Carshalton) edge because Kingston upon Thames policy and Sutton policy rarely align on drawing package depth.

Sources for this SM5 drawing package page: borough policies maps and conservation-area registers (2025–26), Royal Mail postcode district boundaries, the Town and Country Planning (Fees for Applications) (England) Regulations, the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 as amended, and the Party Wall etc. Act 1996.