Where in Ealing does a permitted development scheme actually get determined?
Each Ealing postcode district below, what has been built there, and which council would take the application if the permitted development route turns out to be closed. The money column is statute and not our quote: a householder application costs £548, prior approval on a larger rear extension £249, and a certificate £274.
| Postcode | Area | Dominant stock | What it means for a permitted development scheme |
|---|
| NW10 | Willesden / Harlesden / Kensal Green | Modern apartments, post-war estates | An NW10 address in Willesden, Harlesden or Kensal Green can sit in Brent or in Ealing. Whichever it is decides who you would apply to once the permitted development limits are exceeded, and the two councils publish different validation lists. |
| W4 | Chiswick / Bedford Park | Arts & Crafts villas (listed) | Chiswick and Bedford Park share W4 between Hounslow and Ealing. Bedford Park is a conservation area as well, so a W4 scheme is worth checking twice: once for the authority, once for whether the permitted development right survives at all. |
| W3 | Acton | Victorian and Edwardian terraces | W3 covers Acton and crosses into Hounslow along its southern edge. Confirm the authority from the W3 policies map before drawing, because a certificate applied for at the wrong council is simply returned. |
| W5 | Ealing | Edwardian villas, Victorian terraces | W5 covers Ealing only; Ealing Council handles the permitted development scheme. |
| W7 | Hanwell | Edwardian villas, 1930s semi-detached | Hanwell lies wholly within W7 and wholly within Ealing's remit. The Hanwell conservation area covers part of it, and that is where the permitted development question usually turns. |
| W13 | West Ealing | Edwardian terraces | W13 sits entirely with Ealing Council, so West Ealing schemes are judged against Ealing's Local Plan and its own householder design guidance. |
| UB1 | Southall North | Edwardian terraces, post-war flats | Southall North lies inside UB1 with no boundary complication, so Ealing Council handles every UB1 certificate and every UB1 application. |
| UB2 | Southall South | Edwardian terraces, post-war flats | UB2 holds Southall South on its own. One authority, one Local Plan, and the HMO Article 4 direction to check against the specific street. |
Which Ealing neighbourhoods suit a permitted development scheme best?
Two houses on neighbouring Ealing roads can get different answers, because the pitch of the roof, what the walls are made of and the length of the garden behind each bear directly on whether a scheme stays inside the permitted development limits.
- Greenford (UB6) — permitted development scheme work in Greenford means 1930s semi-detached. Greenford is 1930s semi-detached. On these 1930s semis the prior approval route often replaces a full application throughout UB6. Ealing Council decides the Greenford application, and Greenford station anchors the Greenford location plan.
- Northolt (UB5) — a permitted development scheme in Northolt starts from 1930s semi-detached, post-war estates, and Northolt reads as 1930s semi-detached, post-war estates. On these 1930s semis the prior approval route often replaces a full application in UB5. Ealing Council assesses Northolt permitted development schemes against its own Northolt character guidance, and the location plan we draw for Northolt references Northolt Tube.
- Bedford Park (W4) — a permitted development scheme in Bedford Park starts from arts & crafts villas (listed), and Bedford Park reads as Arts & Crafts garden suburb, conservation. Most applications on these Victorian streets are householder applications validated on existing and proposed plans in W4. Ealing Council assesses Bedford Park permitted development schemes against its own Bedford Park character guidance, and the location plan we draw for Bedford Park references Bedford Park Estate.
- Pitshanger (W5) — Edwardian conservation area defines Pitshanger, where edwardian villas set what a permitted development scheme can do. Edwardian houses here typically need the same householder set plus a roof plan where a dormer is proposed across W5. Any Pitshanger permitted development scheme is validated by Ealing Council, with Pitshanger Lane the usual Pitshanger reference point on the site plan.
- Park Royal (NW10) — industrial fringe, new residential defines Park Royal, where modern apartments, post-war estates set what a permitted development scheme can do. Post-war stock here frequently sits inside an estate layout across NW10. Any Park Royal permitted development scheme is validated by Ealing Council, with Park Royal station the usual Park Royal reference point on the site plan.
- Ealing Broadway (W5) — a permitted development scheme in Ealing Broadway starts from edwardian villas, victorian terraces, and Ealing Broadway reads as Edwardian villas, Victorian terraces. Most applications on these Victorian streets are householder applications validated on existing and proposed plans in W5. Ealing Council assesses Ealing Broadway permitted development schemes against its own Ealing Broadway character guidance, and the location plan we draw for Ealing Broadway references Ealing Broadway station.
- Acton (W3) — a permitted development scheme in Acton starts from victorian and edwardian terraces, and Acton reads as Victorian and Edwardian terraces. Most applications on these Victorian streets are householder applications validated on existing and proposed plans in W3. Ealing Council assesses Acton permitted development schemes against its own Acton character guidance, and the location plan we draw for Acton references Acton Town.
Does Ealing planning policy restrict a permitted development scheme?
Ealing conservation designations: there are 30 of them, Bedford Park, Acton Green and Hanwell among them, and Ealing Broadway is the one that most often forces a redesign. Designation costs money in a specific and measurable way: it shuts off prior approval, which costs £249 and is determined in 6 weeks, and pushes the same extension onto a householder application at £548 determined in 8 weeks — usually with a heritage statement attached, and often with a different roof. Both figures are England-wide statutory fees as at 1 April 2026, identical in every borough.
What Article 4 removes near Ealing: Article 4 for HMOs in specific streets in Acton, Ealing and Southall. Before pricing a permitted development scheme we check whether the W3 address is inside the mapped area, because Ealing Council draws the Ealing boundary street by street rather than across the whole of Ealing.
The building fabric around Ealing: Victorian and Edwardian villas in Ealing central; 1930s semi-detached in Northolt and Hanwell; mansion blocks along main roads; Bedford Park is a listed Arts & Crafts garden suburb. Leafy outer-west London; Bedford Park conservation area has strict heritage controls; rest of borough generally permissive. A permitted development scheme in Ealing is scoped against that stock first.
Who decides a permitted development scheme on the edge of Ealing?
- Hounslow — the Hounslow boundary runs against Ealing, so a permitted development scheme a street from Ealing is decided by Hounslow Council instead. Hounslow runs 30 conservation areas across W3 and its neighbours, which is why permitted development schemes priced for Ealing are re-checked against Hounslow policy whenever the Ealing address sits on that edge.
- Hillingdon — adjoining Ealing, with 29 conservation areas centred on HA4. A permitted development scheme on the far side of the Ealing line is determined by Hillingdon Council, so the Ealing quote for permitted development schemes is checked against Hillingdon guidance before it is issued.
- Brent — adjoining Ealing, with 22 conservation areas centred on NW2. A permitted development scheme on the far side of the Ealing line is determined by Brent Council, so the Ealing quote for permitted development schemes is checked against Brent guidance before it is issued.
- Hammersmith and Fulham — adjoining Ealing, with 45 conservation areas centred on W6. A permitted development scheme on the far side of the Ealing line is determined by Hammersmith & Fulham Council, so the Ealing quote for permitted development schemes is checked against Hammersmith and Fulham guidance before it is issued.
Sources for this Ealing permitted development scheme 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.
