Planning in Barnet

Before submission

Validation requirements

Barnet requires specific submission standards for planning applications to ensure efficient registration. Applicants must provide comprehensive documentation including plans, energy strategies, and drainage assessments as outlined in the council's validation checklists.

• Paper submissions require an original plus three copies of all forms and plans, while electronic submissions must be in PDF format with files under 20MB.
• All plans must include a north direction, a scale bar, a unique drawing number, and must not be marked 'Do not scale'.
• A completed Sustainable Drainage (SUDS) proforma is required for all applications.
• Applications for major residential developments must include specific data for the Greater London Authority and a fire statement.

SourceBarnet — application requirements(opens in a new tab)· checked 2026-10-07

Timescales

Realistic decision times

Statutory target

The national determination period set in law, counted from validation. A target, not a guarantee.

Actual processing time

What the council's published performance data shows in practice, including extensions of time.

Allow for validation before the decision period starts. The usual statutory determination periods in England are 8 weeks for non-major applications, 13 weeks for major development and 16 weeks where environmental impact assessment is required, unless a different period is agreed.

• These are statutory targets, not a measured borough average or a guarantee. No current borough-specific average has been verified for this guide.
• An incomplete submission, amendments, committee referral or an agreed extension of time can extend the overall programme.
• Ask the planning team about its current validation queue before setting a construction date. Prior approval and other specialist applications can have different statutory periods.

SourceGOV.UK — determining a planning application(opens in a new tab)· checked 2026-10-07

Permitted development

Article 4 restrictions

These are selected directions, not an exhaustive address search. Read the council’s current map, schedule, commencement date and any later modifications for your property. A conservation area is not automatically an Article 4 area, and a direction affecting changes of use does not necessarily restrict a home extension. Confirm the responsible planning authority too: some development-corporation areas have separate arrangements.

Article 4 Directions in Barnet remove national permitted development rights, meaning planning permission is required for certain works that would otherwise be automatic. These directions are applied to specific conservation areas and to regulate the conversion of dwellings into HMOs.

• Since 29 May 2016, planning permission is mandatory across Barnet for changing a dwelling house (Use Class C3) into a small-scale house in multiple occupation (Use Class C4).
• Specific conservation areas within the borough are subject to Article 4 Directions that restrict development rights.
• The council evaluates applications affected by Article 4 in the same manner as standard planning applications, requiring the payment of relevant fees.

SourceBarnet — Article 4 information(opens in a new tab)· checked 2026-10-07