Planning in City of London

Before submission

Validation requirements

The City of London mandates the use of specific validation checklists for various planning application types to ensure submissions are processed correctly.

• Applicants must use the relevant Validation Checklist corresponding to their application type to avoid invalidation or delays.
• Specific checklists exist for full planning permission, listed building consent, advertisement consent, householder applications, demolition in conservation areas, and tree-related works.
• Additional checklists are provided for lawful development certificates, telecommunications equipment, and non-material amendments.

SourceCity of London — 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.

The City Corporation has removed permitted development rights for changes from offices (Class E(g)(i)) to residential (Class C3).

• The council records a further non-immediate direction taking effect on 1 August 2022.
• Check the direction and mapped boundary in the council Planning Policy Library; this is not a blanket restriction on every type of alteration.

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