Wrap-around extension in Tower Hamlets

Which postcode districts around Tower Hamlets do we cover for wrap around extension work?

Every Tower Hamlets postcode district we draw in, the stock that dominates it and the authority that validates a wrap around extension there. Tower Hamlets fees below are the statutory England rates for 2026, not wrap around extension estimates.

What changes about a wrap around extension in each part of Tower Hamlets?

Roof pitch, wall build-up and plot depth change every few Tower Hamlets streets, and each one changes what a wrap around extension can achieve at that address.

• Shadwell (E1) — a wrap around extension in Shadwell starts from georgian fragments, post-war estates, and Shadwell reads as Georgian fragments, post-war estates. Georgian rear elevations here are usually the listed or locally listed face of the building in E1. Tower Hamlets Council assesses Shadwell wrap around extensions against its own Shadwell character guidance, and the location plan we draw for Shadwell references Shadwell station.
• Stepney (E1) — Victorian terraces, post-war estates defines Stepney, where victorian terraces, post-war estates set what a wrap around extension can do. The side-return infill is the classic move on these Victorian terraces — 3 m of permitted development depth plus the width of the original side passage across E1. Any Stepney wrap around extension is validated by Tower Hamlets Council, with St Dunstan's the usual Stepney reference point on the site plan.
• Spitalfields (E1) — wrap around extension work in Spitalfields means georgian listed townhouses. Spitalfields is Georgian listed townhouses, market quarter. Georgian rear elevations here are usually the listed or locally listed face of the building throughout E1. Tower Hamlets Council decides the Spitalfields application, and Old Spitalfields Market anchors the Spitalfields location plan.
• Whitechapel (E1) — a wrap around extension in Whitechapel starts from victorian terraces, post-war estates, new-build, and Whitechapel reads as Victorian terraces, mixed. The side-return infill is the classic move on these Victorian terraces — 3 m of permitted development depth plus the width of the original side passage in E1. Tower Hamlets Council assesses Whitechapel wrap around extensions against its own Whitechapel character guidance, and the location plan we draw for Whitechapel references Whitechapel Gallery.
• Bethnal Green (E2) — Victorian terraces, post-war estates defines Bethnal Green, where victorian terraces, post-war estates set what a wrap around extension can do. The side-return infill is the classic move on these Victorian terraces — 3 m of permitted development depth plus the width of the original side passage across E2. Any Bethnal Green wrap around extension is validated by Tower Hamlets Council, with Victoria Park the usual Bethnal Green reference point on the site plan.
• Bow (E3) — wrap around extension work in Bow means victorian terraces, georgian fragments. Bow is Victorian terraces, Georgian fragments. Georgian rear elevations here are usually the listed or locally listed face of the building throughout E3. Tower Hamlets Council decides the Bow application, and Bow Bells anchors the Bow location plan.
• Mile End (E1, E3) — wrap around extension work in Mile End means victorian terraces, post-war estates. Mile End is Victorian terraces, post-war estates. The side-return infill is the classic move on these Victorian terraces — 3 m of permitted development depth plus the width of the original side passage throughout E1. Tower Hamlets Council decides the Mile End application, and Mile End Park anchors the Mile End location plan.

Does Tower Hamlets planning policy restrict a wrap around extension?

Tower Hamlets conservation designations: there are 58 across Tower Hamlets Council, Wapping Pierhead, Spitalfields, Whitechapel Market among them. Designation costs a Tower Hamlets owner the permitted-development route: a wrap around extension then needs a £548 householder application over 8 weeks, in place of the £249 prior approval route that takes 6 weeks. Wapping Pierhead is the Tower Hamlets designation that most often changes a wrap around extension design.

Tower Hamlets and Article 4: Article 4 for HMOs borough-wide; additional Article 4 covering office-to-residential in Canary Wharf and City Fringe. A wrap around extension planned at a E1 address is checked against that direction first; Tower Hamlets Council publishes the Tower Hamlets extent, and the E1 line rarely follows the Tower Hamlets boundary you would expect.

What Tower Hamlets is built from: Georgian in Spitalfields and Wapping; Victorian industrial conversions; extensive post-war social housing; modern high-density towers in Canary Wharf and Aldgate. High heritage value in pockets (Spitalfields, Wapping), mixed with substantial regeneration areas; active planning committee. That mix decides the wrap around extension route in Tower Hamlets more than the postcode does.

What happens if a Tower Hamlets property sits on a boundary?

• Greenwich — the Greenwich boundary runs against Tower Hamlets, so a wrap around extension a street from Tower Hamlets is decided by Greenwich Council instead. Greenwich runs 20 conservation areas across SE3 and its neighbours, which is why wrap around extensions priced for Tower Hamlets are re-checked against Greenwich policy whenever the Tower Hamlets address sits on that edge.
• Hackney — the Hackney boundary runs against Tower Hamlets, so a wrap around extension a street from Tower Hamlets is decided by Hackney Council instead. Hackney runs 29 conservation areas across E2 and its neighbours, which is why wrap around extensions priced for Tower Hamlets are re-checked against Hackney policy whenever the Tower Hamlets address sits on that edge.
• Newham — adjoining Tower Hamlets, with 10 conservation areas centred on E6. A wrap around extension on the far side of the Tower Hamlets line is determined by Newham Council, so the Tower Hamlets quote for wrap around extensions is checked against Newham guidance before it is issued.
• City of London — the City of London boundary runs against Tower Hamlets, so a wrap around extension a street from Tower Hamlets is decided by City of London Corporation instead. City of London runs 27 conservation areas across EC1 and its neighbours, which is why wrap around extensions priced for Tower Hamlets are re-checked against City of London policy whenever the Tower Hamlets address sits on that edge.

Sources for this Tower Hamlets wrap around extension 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.