A planning application has two costs that are always confused: what the drawings cost, and what the council charges to decide the application. Here are the 2026 London figures for both.
| Package | Fixed fee | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|
| Essentials — measured survey, existing and proposed plans | 14–20 working days | |
| Loft conversion package — survey, plans, sections, elevations | 14–20 working days | |
| Mansard / roof rebuild package | 18–24 working days | |
| Complete — planning plus building regulations drawings | 20–28 working days |
Each package includes the measured survey, the full existing and proposed drawing set at council-required scales, the Planning Portal submission in your name, and case management through to the decision notice. Revisions requested by the case officer during the eight weeks are included, because securing the permission is the job.
Statutory application fees are set nationally, so they are identical in all 33 London boroughs. They are paid to the council through the Planning Portal at submission and are entirely separate from our fee.
| Application type | Statutory fee | Determination |
|---|---|---|
| Householder application (extension, loft, dormer) | £548 | 8 weeks |
| Full application — new dwellinghouse | £610 | 8 weeks |
| Lawful Development Certificate (proposed) | £274 | 8 weeks |
| Listed building consent | No fee | 8 weeks |
| Prior approval — larger rear extension | £249 | 6 weeks |
Two provisions are worth knowing. Listed building consent carries no fee at all, though it is usually needed alongside a chargeable planning application. And a resubmission on the same site within twelve months of the original decision attracts no statutory fee under the free-go provisions, which is why an amended resubmission is often cheaper and faster than an appeal.
The pattern worth noticing is that the planning-stage costs are small and predictable while the construction-stage costs are neither. A typical London householder application is therefore around £1,100 all in, against a build that will run to tens of thousands.
£548 for a householder application, £610 for a full application for a new dwellinghouse, £274 for a Lawful Development Certificate and £249 for larger home extension prior approval. Listed building consent is free. These are national rates, identical across all 33 London boroughs.
Mostly because of the pricing model rather than the deliverable. A percentage fee of 2% to 4% of build cost for the planning stage produces £3,000 to £8,000 on a typical London extension or loft.
Yes, in every package. Drawings produced without a measured survey disagree with the building, and councils compare your existing elevations against their own aerial and street imagery. A quote that treats the survey as an optional extra is not comparing like for like.
No. A resubmission on the same site within twelve months of the original decision also carries no statutory council fee.
One address, one scope, one number. No percentage of build cost and no hourly billing for the revisions your case officer asks for.
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Each area page carries the local planning authority, conservation-area position, postcode districts and typical housing stock for that address.
