Planning drawings in Dartford, £895 fixed

What is the householder approval rate in Dartford?

Dartford Borough Council granted 281 of 368 householder decisions (76.4%) from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026, counting householder planning applications and larger home extension prior approvals together. Across London the same measure was 85.8% (20,556 of 23,967). Source: MHCLG live table PS2, district planning application statistics, 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026. See the other Kent councils on the Kent planning page.

What does Dartford Borough Council need to validate an application?

• The council has used an updated local list of validation requirements since 1 July 2026. (source)
• Street scene drawings at 1:100 or 1:200 where there is a notable difference in height from the neighbouring buildings or final ground levels are unclear, showing the neighbours' height, outline and windows and written dimensions for the gaps between buildings. (source)
• A topographical survey or existing and proposed levels with section drawings where the site has differing, undulating or sloping ground levels. (source)
• A heritage statement for applications in conservation areas or affecting the setting of a listed building or scheduled monument. (source)
• If an invalid application is not put right within the 28-day expiry period, or is withdrawn after being found invalid, the council keeps a £56 charge for a householder application. (source)

Article 4 directions in Dartford

An Article 4 direction removes permitted development rights, so work that needs no application elsewhere needs one here. Check yours with the permitted development checker.

• Houses in multiple occupation, north of the A2. Brought into force immediately by full Council on 8 December 2025 and confirmed on 23 February 2026: converting a house into an HMO north of the A2 needs planning permission. (source)
• Houses in multiple occupation, south of the A2. Confirmed on 23 February 2026 and in effect from 10 December 2026: from then, converting a house into an HMO with up to six occupants needs planning permission. (source)
• Older directions. The national planning data register also holds five older directions for the borough, dated 1976 to 1984. It records three of them (1980, 1983 and 1984) as removing permitted development rights that include house extensions, porches and front boundary walls and fences, and two as removing temporary-use rights. It does not say which streets they cover, and we have not read the directions themselves. (source)

The national planning data register records six conservation areas in Dartford: Dartford Town Centre, Greenhithe, Southfleet, Hook Green, Red Street and Church Hill. (source)

How long does a planning decision take in Dartford?

Eight weeks is the statutory period for a householder application. Of the 304 householder planning applications Dartford decided from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026, excluding prior approvals, 295 (97%) were decided within eight weeks.

• Householder pre-application advice costs £186 for a letter or £372 for a meeting, including VAT (2026-27 charges). (source)
• For a written householder response the council aims to reply within six weeks; with a meeting, it aims to meet within four weeks and reply within four weeks after that. (source)

Design guidance: Parking Standards SPD (July 2012). The council says its principles still apply, including local design requirements such as its approach to car barns, carports and garages; Kent County Council's 2025 parking standards also cover the borough.

Other local costs and documents in Dartford

• The Dartford Local Plan to 2037 was adopted in 2024 and applies across the borough, including Ebbsfleet. (source)
• Three SPDs were adopted in 2026: Houses in Multiple Occupation, Settlements and Sustainable Locations, and Darent Riverside and Flood Management. (source)

Planning and building regulations drawings in Dartford

The same published prices apply in Dartford as everywhere we work.

• get your planning drawings prepared: £895, survey to submission, with the council fee paid separately.
• prepare your building regulations package: £795, drawn to the Approved Documents once planning is settled.
• extension drawings and approval routes: what a rear, side or wraparound extension needs, from permitted development to a full application.

Where your work is permitted development, a certificate of lawfulness starts at £950. Not sure which applies? Read do I need planning permission? first.

Neighbouring councils

Dartford shares a boundary with two council areas where we publish the same council data. Each has its own approval rate, validation checklist and Article 4 areas, so check which council your address falls under before relying on any one page.

Council facts checked 14 October 2026.