Planning drawings in Lambeth, £895 fixed

What is the householder approval rate in Lambeth?

Lambeth Council granted 496 of 595 householder decisions (83.4%) from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026, with larger home extension prior approvals counted in. That is 2.4 points below London's 85.8% (20,556 of 23,967), and 99 of its 595 decisions were not granted. Rank 20 counts the 32 boroughs with 50+ decisions (one has fewer). Source: MHCLG PS2. Compare all boroughs: London approval rates table.

What does Lambeth Council need to validate an application?

• Lambeth's Local Information Requirements (issued December 2024) require a basement impact assessment for any basement that adds floorspace below ground, covering flooding, groundwater, runoff and structural stability. (source)
• A flood risk assessment is needed in Flood Zones 2 and 3 and in some Flood Zone 1 cases, such as larger sites, critical drainage areas, or where the council’s flood studies show risk from surface run-off, groundwater or sewer flooding. (source)
• Elevations must show where the windows and doors of adjoining buildings sit, and every plan needs a linear scale bar. (source)
• A heritage statement is required in conservation areas, for locally listed buildings and in Archaeological Priority Areas, referring to the Greater London Historic Environment Record. (source)

Article 4 directions in Lambeth

two Article 4 directions below remove permitted development rights in Lambeth. Check an address with the permitted development checker.

• Small HMOs, Streatham Common & Vale and Streatham St Leonard's wards. Since 11 August 2025 turning a house into a small HMO in these two wards needs planning permission. (source)
• Conservation area directions: Albert Square, Hyde Farm, Lansdowne Gardens, Leigham Court Estate, Park Hall Road, St Marks, Stockwell Park, Streatham Lodge and Vauxhall. All or parts of these areas have directions removing some permitted development rights for external alterations and other built development. (source)

Lambeth has 62 conservation areas covering about 30% of the borough. (source)

How long does a planning decision take in Lambeth?

Lambeth decided 354 householder applications from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026, prior approvals excluded; 333 of them (94.1%) took eight weeks or less.

• Lambeth says you should get a householder decision within 8 weeks. (source)
• Householder pre-application advice (2026/27) costs £491 including VAT written only, £820.46 with a site visit or meeting, or £984.88 in a conservation area, with a response estimated in 35 days. (source)

Design guidance: Lambeth Design Guide SPD, Part 4 Building Alterations, Extensions and Retrofit (2023). Adopted 8 August 2023; Part 4 covers extensions, dormers and mansards and Part 5 covers basements.

Drawings and prices in Lambeth

• architectural drawings service for Lambeth homeowners: £895.
• drawings for building control approval: £795.
• plans for a dormer, hip-to-gable or mansard loft

Do I need planning permission? · Certificate of lawfulness from £950.

Neighbouring boroughs

Council facts checked 14 October 2026.