Apply for planning permission
Understanding your aims
Want some early advice or guidance?
We offer pre-application advice to anyone who is thinking about making a planning application. We will answer any questions you have and help you to understand any issues at your site. We can also explain our planning policies so you can make sure your development is acceptable. This can help you be more confident that your development will be granted planning permission.
Talking to us before you make an application can help you avoid risks, speed up the planning process and help you create the best possible development.
Find out more information about our pre-application advice service.
Is planning permission needed?
Not all development needs planning permission. You should check this before you begin to prepare a planning application.
View our guidance on when you need planning permission.
You can find more information using the links below:
- What is planning permission? (external website) gives a summary of what planning permission is, and when it's needed
- Planning practice guidance (external website) explains when you're likely to need planning permission, including guidance about ‘Permitted Development’
- When is permission required? (external website) is guidance from the government on when you may need planning permission
- Permitted development rights for householders: Technical Guidance (external download) is a document that explains what works are permitted development using diagrams and examples
Has the property been through planning before?
You can use the Planning Register to check the history of a property or can look up the property using Southwark Maps (opens in a new window). It's helpful to know the history of a property, because this can have an effect on what works you're able to do.
Page last updated: 21 November 2023
