Planning in Greenwich

Before submission

Validation requirements

Greenwich accepts applications, supporting documents and fee calculations through the Planning Portal. Check the current council requirements rather than relying on a consultation draft.

• Prepare location and proposal drawings appropriate to the application type.
• Confirm the current local validation list with the planning team, especially where specialist reports may be required.

SourceGreenwich — application guidance(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.

Greenwich employs Article 4 directions to withdraw specific permitted development rights, necessitating a planning application for affected works. These directions are not retrospective.

• A non-immediate direction effective from 8 August 2023 restricts the change of use from Class E (commercial) to Class C3 (residential) in many retail centres.
• A non-immediate direction effective from 27 September 2018 requires planning permission to convert a house into a House in Multiple Occupation (C4) across the borough.
• An earlier direction restricting Class B1(a) office to Class C3 residential conversion on Greenwich Peninsula was cancelled on 8 August 2023.

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