Planning in Merton

Before submission

Validation requirements

Merton directs applicants to its Planning Application Validation Checklist 2025.

• Drawings must be to scale and include a scale bar.
• Check the checklist for the supporting documents required for your type of application.
• Assess conservation-area, listed-building and other site constraints before choosing the application route.

SourceMerton — 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.

Merton has enacted Article 4 directions removing permitted development rights for specific changes of use.

• The conversion of homes (Class C3) to small HMOs (Class C4) requires planning permission borough-wide following directions implemented in 2022 and 2026.
• Office-to-home conversions require planning permission in designated areas including Wimbledon town centre, Willow Lane, and Garth Road industrial estates.

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