Planning in Tower Hamlets

Before submission

Validation requirements

The provided source is a formal householder planning application checklist.

• Applicants must submit existing and proposed elevations and floor plans for all applications.
• A Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) additional information form is mandatory for almost all applications.
• Site sections and finished floor levels are required for all applications except for window and door replacements.
• Roof plans are required where alterations to an existing roof or new building work are proposed.

SourceTower Hamlets — 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.

Tower Hamlets has implemented Article 4 directions to remove specific permitted development rights.

• A direction effective from 18 August 2022 removes permitted development rights for changes of use from Class E commercial to residential (Class C3) in specified borough areas.
• A separate direction effective from 1 January 2021 removes the right to convert residential dwellings (C3) to small houses in multiple occupation (C4) within a defined implementation area.

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