Planning in Bromley

Before submission

Validation requirements

Bromley maintains a specific list of local information requirements for planning applications, last agreed upon by the Development Control Committee on 12 December 2024. Applicants are directed to use provided online checklists to ensure their submissions meet the necessary criteria for validation.

• Site photos, ideally date-stamped and in PDF format, are a mandatory validation requirement for assessment.
• If submitting by post, drawings must be no larger than A3 size.
• Applicants should use the provided checklists as guidance for specific application types.
• Internal layout photos are encouraged for applications involving changes of use or internal alterations.

SourceBromley — 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.
• The validation requirements were formally agreed by the Development Control Committee on 12 December 2024. Applicants should contact the planning support team if they do not receive an acknowledgement or invalid letter within two weeks of submission. Check the application guidance linked above for the latest position.

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.

The London Borough of Bromley has enacted multiple Article 4 Directions affecting various specific locations across the borough. These directions modify permitted development rights, specifically targeting areas such as the Biggin Hill and Darwin wards, various ASRC (Area of Special Residential Character) locations, and conservation areas.

• Numerous Article 4 Directions are in place, including specific orders for Barnmead Road, Bickley ASRC, and Biggin Hill airport.
• Council documents evidence modifications to Part 3 Class MA (commercial conversions) and other classes such as Part 1 Class AA (house extensions) in designated areas.
• Specific documents detail additional restrictions for conservation areas like the Chislehurst Road Conservation Area.

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