Architectural drawings in SW7

Where in SW7 does a drawing package actually get determined?

Every SW7 postcode district we draw in, the stock that dominates it and the authority that validates a drawing package there. SW7 fees below are the statutory England rates for 2026, not drawing package estimates.

What changes about a drawing package in each part of SW7?

Roof pitch, wall build-up and plot depth change every few SW7 streets, and each one changes what a drawing package can achieve at that address.

• Inside SW7: South Kensington (SW7) — drawing package work in South Kensington means stucco terraces, mansion blocks, listed buildings. South Kensington is Victorian and Edwardian stucco terraces. RBKC Planning decides the South Kensington application, and V&A anchors the South Kensington location plan.
• Inside SW7: Knightsbridge (SW1X, SW7) — a drawing package in Knightsbridge starts from regency and victorian terraces, mansion blocks, and Knightsbridge reads as Regency and Victorian terraces, luxury. in SW1X. RBKC Planning assesses Knightsbridge architectural drawings against its own Knightsbridge character guidance, and the location plan we draw for Knightsbridge references Harrods.
• Bordering SW7: Kensington (W8) — drawing package work in Kensington means stucco terraces, listed buildings. Kensington is Georgian and Victorian stucco terraces. RBKC Planning decides the Kensington application, and Kensington Palace anchors the Kensington location plan.
• Bordering SW7: Chelsea (SW3, SW10) — drawing package work in Chelsea means georgian and victorian terraces, listed buildings. Chelsea is Georgian and Victorian terraces, riverside. RBKC Planning decides the Chelsea application, and King's Road anchors the Chelsea location plan.
• Bordering SW7: Notting Hill (W11) — a drawing package in Notting Hill starts from victorian stucco terraces, and Notting Hill reads as stucco terraces, painted facades. in W11. RBKC Planning assesses Notting Hill architectural drawings against its own Notting Hill character guidance, and the location plan we draw for Notting Hill references Portobello Road.
• Bordering SW7: Holland Park (W11, W14) — a drawing package in Holland Park starts from victorian and edwardian villas, and Holland Park reads as Victorian villas around the park. in W11. RBKC Planning assesses Holland Park architectural drawings against its own Holland Park character guidance, and the location plan we draw for Holland Park references Holland Park.
• Bordering SW7: Earl's Court (SW5) — Victorian stucco terraces, mansion blocks defines Earl's Court, where stucco terraces, edwardian mansion blocks set what a drawing package can do. Any Earl's Court drawing package is validated by RBKC Planning, with Earl's Court station the usual Earl's Court reference point on the site plan.
• Bordering SW7: North Kensington (W10) — drawing package work in North Kensington means victorian terraces, post-war estates. North Kensington is Victorian terraces, post-war estates. RBKC Planning decides the North Kensington application, and Golborne Road anchors the North Kensington location plan.
• Bordering SW7: Brompton (SW3) — drawing package work in Brompton means stucco terraces, edwardian mansion blocks. Brompton is Victorian stucco terraces, mansion blocks. RBKC Planning decides the Brompton application, and Brompton Cross anchors the Brompton location plan.
• Bordering SW7: Mayfair (W1J, W1K) — Georgian listed townhouses, luxury defines Mayfair, where georgian townhouses, listed buildings set what a drawing package can do. Any Mayfair drawing package is validated by Westminster City Council, with Berkeley Square the usual Mayfair reference point on the site plan.

Does SW7 planning policy restrict a drawing package?

Conservation areas covering SW7 (South Kensington / Knightsbridge): RBKC Planning runs 38, and Chelsea, Notting Hill, Holland Park are the ones SW7 (South Kensington / Knightsbridge) owners meet most. A drawing package inside a SW7 (South Kensington / Knightsbridge) conservation area loses permitted development, so the SW7 (South Kensington / Knightsbridge) submission is a householder application at £548 decided in 8 weeks — not a £249 prior approval decided in 6 weeks. In Notting Hill a drawing package is judged on the street elevation first.

SW7 (South Kensington / Knightsbridge) and Article 4: Article 4 Directions covering HMOs, office-to-residential, and basement developments — RBKC has some of the strictest basement policies in London. A drawing package planned at a SW7 address is checked against that direction first; RBKC Planning publishes the SW7 (South Kensington / Knightsbridge) extent, and the SW7 line rarely follows the SW7 (South Kensington / Knightsbridge) boundary you would expect.

Digging below a SW7 (South Kensington / Knightsbridge) property: RBKC's basement policy (post-2015) limits to single-storey under 50% of garden area; double-storey basements effectively prohibited in residential streets. Where a drawing package in SW7 (South Kensington / Knightsbridge) involves excavation that is read beside the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, which needs two months notice for a SW7 (South Kensington / Knightsbridge) dig within 3 m of a neighbour, and RBKC Planning expects the SW7 ground conditions addressed in the application.

The building fabric around SW7 (South Kensington / Knightsbridge): Grand white stucco Regency and Victorian terraces; red-brick Queen Anne mansions in Kensington; Edwardian mansion blocks; almost no post-war housing stock. Internationally wealthy residents; extensive listed building coverage; heritage and streetscape prioritised in every decision. A drawing package in SW7 (South Kensington / Knightsbridge) 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 RBKC Planning.

Conservation areas covering SW7 (South Kensington / Knightsbridge): Westminster City Council runs 56, and Pimlico, Soho, Covent Garden are the ones SW7 (South Kensington / Knightsbridge) owners meet most. A drawing package inside a SW7 (South Kensington / Knightsbridge) conservation area loses permitted development, so the SW7 (South Kensington / Knightsbridge) submission is a householder application at £548 decided in 8 weeks — not a £249 prior approval decided in 6 weeks. In Mayfair a drawing package is judged on the street elevation first.

SW7 (South Kensington / Knightsbridge) and Article 4: Multiple Article 4 Directions — office-to-residential restrictions, HMO conversions, retail to residential in shopping zones. A drawing package planned at a SW7 address is checked against that direction first; Westminster City Council publishes the SW7 (South Kensington / Knightsbridge) extent, and the SW7 line rarely follows the SW7 (South Kensington / Knightsbridge) boundary you would expect.

Digging below a SW7 (South Kensington / Knightsbridge) property: Westminster basement policy restricts to single-storey, typically under 50% of rear garden footprint; lightwells and rooflights strictly controlled in conservation areas. Where a drawing package in SW7 (South Kensington / Knightsbridge) involves excavation that is read beside the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, which needs two months notice for a SW7 (South Kensington / Knightsbridge) dig within 3 m of a neighbour, and Westminster City Council expects the SW7 ground conditions addressed in the application.

The building fabric around SW7 (South Kensington / Knightsbridge): Grand Georgian and Regency terraces in Belgravia and Pimlico; Victorian and Edwardian mansion blocks; heritage-rich townhouses throughout; very high listed building density. Heritage-first planning approach; listed buildings on almost every street; basement and rear extension policies particularly strict. A drawing package in SW7 (South Kensington / Knightsbridge) 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 Westminster City Council.

What happens if a SW7 property sits on a boundary?

• Westminster — adjoining SW7 (South Kensington / Knightsbridge), with 56 conservation areas centred on SW1. A drawing package on the far side of the SW7 (South Kensington / Knightsbridge) line is determined by Westminster City Council, so the SW7 (South Kensington / Knightsbridge) quote for architectural drawings is checked against Westminster guidance before it is issued.
• Hammersmith and Fulham — cross the SW7 (South Kensington / Knightsbridge) boundary and Hammersmith & Fulham Council takes the drawing package instead, applying 45 conservation areas of its own around W6. We re-price architectural drawings at the SW7 (South Kensington / Knightsbridge) edge because Hammersmith and Fulham policy and Kensington and Chelsea policy rarely align on drawing package depth.
• Brent — the Brent boundary runs against Kensington and Chelsea, so a drawing package a street from SW7 (South Kensington / Knightsbridge) is decided by Brent Council instead. Brent runs 22 conservation areas across NW2 and its neighbours, which is why architectural drawings priced for SW7 (South Kensington / Knightsbridge) are re-checked against Brent policy whenever the SW7 (South Kensington / Knightsbridge) address sits on that edge.
• Kensington and Chelsea — the Kensington and Chelsea boundary runs against Westminster, so a drawing package a street from SW7 (South Kensington / Knightsbridge) is decided by RBKC Planning instead. Kensington and Chelsea runs 38 conservation areas across SW1 and its neighbours, which is why architectural drawings priced for SW7 (South Kensington / Knightsbridge) are re-checked against Kensington and Chelsea policy whenever the SW7 (South Kensington / Knightsbridge) address sits on that edge.
• Wandsworth — adjoining SW7 (South Kensington / Knightsbridge), with 45 conservation areas centred on SW8. A drawing package on the far side of the SW7 (South Kensington / Knightsbridge) line is determined by Wandsworth Council, so the SW7 (South Kensington / Knightsbridge) quote for architectural drawings is checked against Wandsworth guidance before it is issued.
• Lambeth — cross the SW7 (South Kensington / Knightsbridge) boundary and Lambeth Council takes the drawing package instead, applying 64 conservation areas of its own around SE1. We re-price architectural drawings at the SW7 (South Kensington / Knightsbridge) edge because Lambeth policy and Westminster policy rarely align on drawing package depth.
• City of London — cross the SW7 (South Kensington / Knightsbridge) boundary and City of London Corporation takes the drawing package instead, applying 27 conservation areas of its own around EC1. We re-price architectural drawings at the SW7 (South Kensington / Knightsbridge) edge because City of London policy and Westminster policy rarely align on drawing package depth.

Sources for this SW7 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.