Planning in Harrow

Before submission

Validation requirements

Harrow Council mandates that all planning applications meet national information requirements alongside specific local requirements detailed in their validation checklist. Applicants must submit documentation online via the Planning Portal or email to avoid invalidation, with a 21-day window to rectify missing information.

• Major developments and those in designated areas require a Design and Access Statement.
• Proposals involving ground level changes require existing and proposed site sections and finished floor levels.
• All new buildings or extensions creating over 100 square metres of floor space or a new dwelling must submit Community Infrastructure Levy information.
• Applications affecting conservation areas or heritage assets require a Heritage Statement.

SourceHarrow — 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 allow the Council to remove permitted development rights to protect local amenity or wellbeing. Specific details regarding individual conservation areas and rights withdrawn are accessible via the Council’s conservation area webpages.

• Article 4 directions may require planning permission for minor works like changing roof tiles.
• The Council maintains specific Article 4 directions for individual conservation areas.

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