Planning in Camden

Before submission

Validation requirements

Applicants must provide a site location plan and scaled drawings alongside the online application form and fees. Additional supporting documents are mandatory, with a comprehensive list provided in the council's local area requirements document.

• Site location plan and scaled drawings are required for all applications.
• Specific planning statements must be submitted for major developments, listed building work, and changes of use.
• Local requirements for supporting documentation must be checked via the council's published guidance before submission.

SourceCamden — 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.

Camden Council maintains Article 4 Directions in several conservation areas to preserve historic features by removing certain permitted development rights. These directions vary by location, specifically targeting works like hard standings, building structures, and wall signage.

• Areas with active directions include Belsize, Fitzjohns Netherhall, Hampstead, Primrose Hill, South Hampstead, South Hill Park Estate, Dartmouth Park, and Redington and Frognal.
• Specific restrictions include preventing hard standings in Belsize Avenue, prohibiting incidental structures at 67 Fitzjohns Avenue, and protecting a painted sign at 33 York Rise.
• The source distinguishes these heritage controls from general planning permissions and does not provide data on Class MA commercial conversions or general home extensions beyond specific heritage-related site restrictions.

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