Planning in Kensington and Chelsea

Before submission

Validation requirements

The council assesses planning applications against a mandatory Local Validation List. Applicants must provide specific documentation, such as site location and block plans, alongside relevant application forms.

• Applications must be checked against the requirements set out in the official Local Validation List.
• All submitted drawings must be A3 or smaller, formatted as PDFs, and clearly include print size and scale.
• A Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) form is required for any project resulting in a net increase in floorspace.
• Projects involving basement development must adhere to specific council basement guidance.

SourceKensington and Chelsea — 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 in conservation areas control small-scale external alterations to properties, such as changes to windows, doors, or boundary walls. These measures aim to protect the historic or architectural character of the borough.

• The council maintains Article 4 Directions for various streets, including Abingdon Road, Addison Avenue, and Arundel Gardens, dating back to 1969.
• These directions specifically target works to the front elevations of houses to prevent harm to the character of conservation areas.
• The provided source lists specific property numbers and commencement dates for numerous affected streets, but does not identify rights withdrawn for HMOs or commercial conversions.

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