Planning drawings for house extensions
Our House Extension Drawings & Plans show the existing house, proposed floor layouts, elevations, sections and the extension’s relationship to boundaries and neighbouring properties.
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Planning Drawings London from £1,450 + VAT
Need planning drawings for a house extension or loft conversion in London? Draw & Plan prepares planning drawings for house extension projects, loft conversions, garage conversions and other residential alterations. Our planning application drawings show the existing property and proposed changes clearly for the local planning authority, with measured surveys, site plans, floor plans, elevations and sections where required. Your architectural designer personally visits your property during the measured survey to discuss your ideas and assess the proposed design in the context of the existing building.
Your architectural designer can carry out the measured survey, discuss your ideas on site and develop the drawings before submitting a planning application, Lawful Development Certificate or prior approval application where required. Our measured survey + planning drawing package starts from £1,450 + VAT. If suitable existing survey or planning drawings are provided, the reduced package price starts from £950 + VAT, with council liaison and drawing revisions included.
For borough-specific context, see our Sutton extension drawings and local planning guidance.
Planning drawing samples
Existing and proposed drawing sets
Real residential planning drawings showing floor plans, elevations, sections, roof plans and site context. Select any drawing to view the full sheet, or browse our wider Drawing Samples collection.
Ealing — loft conversion planning drawings
A residential loft conversion set showing the existing and proposed plans, elevations, roof plan and section for a planning application.
Wandsworth — house extension planning drawings
A residential house extension set showing the existing site context and proposed plans, elevations and section for a planning application.
Explore genuine completed examples in our Past Projects, including house extensions in Lambeth, Southwark and Sutton, together with combined house extension and loft conversion projects in Lewisham.
Application design information
What are planning drawings?
Planning drawings are architectural illustrations that show how a property looks now and how it will change. Your architectural designer carries out the Measured Building Survey, discusses your ideas and assesses the proposal against the existing building before preparing the visual evidence used by the local authority to assess an application. Our architectural design service then develops the proposal and coordinates the submission.
Different purposes
Planning Drawings vs Building Regulations Drawings
Planning drawings show what a project will look like and how it relates to its surroundings. Building Regulations drawings explain how the approved design will be constructed safely and to the required technical standards.
Planning application package
What do planning drawings include?
A coordinated, fixed-fee package prepared for your local planning authority.
- Personal site visit by your architectural designer to carry out the measured survey and discuss the proposed design
- Location and site plans
- Existing and proposed floor plans
- Existing and proposed elevations
- Sections and roof plans where required
- Planning application preparation and submission
- Ongoing council liaison and drawing revisions
Fixed-fee service
How Much Do Planning Drawings Cost?
Our planning package, including a personal site visit by your architectural designer for the measured survey and design discussion, starts from £1,450 + VAT. If suitable existing survey or planning drawings are provided, the reduced price starts from £950 + VAT. The complete measured survey + planning + Building Regulations package starts from £1,950 + VAT, or from £1,450 + VAT where suitable existing drawings are provided. The fixed fee is confirmed before work begins; see Services & Prices for the full inclusions.
A complete application service
- Measured survey included
- Application prepared and submitted
- Council liaison and revisions
When they’re required
Do I Need Planning Drawings?
You will normally need drawings if your project requires planning permission, a Lawful Development Certificate or prior approval.
- House extensions outside Permitted Development limits
- Loft conversions or roof alterations requiring permission
- Garage conversions and significant external alterations
- New dwellings and outbuildings
- Changes of use and flat conversions
- Lawful Development Certificate and prior approval applications
Residential projects
Planning drawings for loft conversions
Our Loft Conversion Drawings coordinate the proposed loft layout, roof plan, elevations and section so the authority can assess roof form, height, dormers and openings.
Application routes
Planning permission or confirmation of lawful development
Route 1
Planning Application
Used where planning permission is required. The authority assesses the proposal against planning policy and its effect on the property, neighbours and surrounding area.
Route 2
Lawful Development Certificate
Used to obtain formal confirmation that proposed work is lawful under Permitted Development rights, provided every relevant limit and condition is met.
Planning considerations
What the drawings help the council assess
01 – Scale, height and massing
02 – Layout and relationship to boundaries
03 – External appearance and materials
04 – Neighbour privacy and overlooking
05 – Daylight and overshadowing
06 – Street scene and local character
07 – Access, parking and servicing
08 – Local planning policy
From survey to submission
The planning drawings process
A clear process keeps the design, drawings and application information aligned. Your architectural designer reviews the property and your brief during the measured survey, discusses the proposal with you on site and then develops the drawings before preparing and managing the planning submission.
01
Project review
We review your brief, property and likely planning route before confirming a fixed fee.
02
Measured survey
Your architectural designer personally visits your property to carry out the measured survey, discuss your ideas and assess the proposed design in the context of the existing building.
03
Design development
We prepare and discuss the proposed layouts, elevations, roof plans and sections.
04
Planning checks
The proposal is checked against relevant planning constraints and application requirements.
05
Application submission
We prepare the application documents and submit them to the local planning authority.
06
Council liaison
We monitor the application, respond to queries and revise drawings where required.
Accurate existing information
Why measured surveys matter
Planning proposals are drawn over the existing building, so the accuracy of the survey affects every later drawing. During the measured survey, your architectural designer records the property’s dimensions, levels, openings, roof form and relationship to its boundaries while discussing how the proposal should work with the existing building. This gives us a reliable base for existing plans, proposed layouts, elevations and sections.
Consistent survey information also makes the changes easier for the planning officer to understand and reduces avoidable discrepancies between sheets. Read more about our Measured Building Surveys or start with Planning Drawings for Beginners.
Greater London coverage
Planning drawings across London
We prepare residential planning drawings across Greater London, including South London, North London, East London and West London. Every borough applies national planning rules alongside its own local plan, design guidance and site-specific constraints, so the property and proposal must be reviewed individually.
Our work covers house extensions, loft conversions, garage conversions, roof alterations, outbuildings, changes of use and other home alterations. See the full areas we cover or send us the postcode for a fixed-fee quotation.
We prepare house extension and loft conversion plans across London, with local guidance for Hammersmith & Fulham, Lambeth, Southwark, Sutton, Lewisham, Merton and Wandsworth.
Clear applications and next steps
Common planning drawing mistakes
Incomplete or inconsistent information can prevent validation, create questions or make the proposal harder to assess. Common problems include:
- Submitting plans that are not drawn accurately or consistently
- Omitting a required elevation, section, roof plan or site plan
- Designing without checking local planning policy or property constraints
- Showing unclear boundaries, access arrangements or neighbouring context
- Using different dimensions or details across the drawing set
- Treating planning approval as permission to begin construction immediately
Planning permission guidance
Planning permission and Building Regulations are separate approvals. Planning considers whether the design is acceptable, while Building Regulations consider how the work will be constructed safely and perform properly.
Our Planning Permission Guide explains when each approval is needed. For technical drawing requirements, read the Building Regulations Guide and view our Building Regulations Drawings service.
What happens after approval?
Planning permission confirms that the proposal is acceptable in planning terms, but it is not normally the final step before construction. Check the decision notice carefully, including any conditions that must be discharged before work starts.
Most projects then require technical Building Regulations drawings and approval. Structural calculations, Party Wall notices or other specialist information may also be needed. Our guide to what happens after planning permission sets out the next stages.
Helpful answers
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need planning drawings?
You will normally need planning drawings if your project requires planning permission, a Lawful Development Certificate or prior approval. Typical projects include extensions, loft conversions, roof alterations, outbuildings, new dwellings and changes of use.
How much do planning drawings cost?
The planning package, including a personal site visit by your architectural designer to carry out the measured survey and discuss the proposed design, starts from £1,450 + VAT. If suitable existing survey or planning drawings are provided, the reduced price starts from £950 + VAT. The complete measured survey + planning + Building Regulations package starts from £1,950 + VAT, or from £1,450 + VAT where suitable existing drawings are provided.
How long do planning drawings take?
Planning drawings are typically issued within seven days of the measured-survey appointment with your architectural designer. Timing can vary with the project’s complexity and any specialist information required.
What’s included in planning drawings?
Our service includes a personal site visit by your architectural designer to carry out the measured survey, discuss your ideas and assess the proposed design, together with location and site plans, existing and proposed floor plans and elevations, relevant sections and roof plans, application preparation and submission, council liaison and drawing revisions.
Can you submit the application?
Yes. Our planning drawings service includes application preparation and submission, ongoing council liaison and drawing revisions.
Do you cover all London boroughs?
We prepare planning drawings across Greater London, including South London, North London, East London and West London. Send us the property postcode and project details so we can review the site and confirm a fixed fee.
Do I need drawings for Permitted Development?
You may still need accurate existing and proposed drawings to confirm that the work stays within Permitted Development limits and to apply for a Lawful Development Certificate.
Are planning drawings the same as Building Regulations drawings?
No. Planning drawings focus on design, appearance and impact on the surrounding area. Building Regulations drawings provide the technical construction information needed to demonstrate compliance with safety and performance standards.
What happens after planning permission?
Check the decision notice and any conditions first. Most construction projects then need Building Regulations drawings and approval, and some also require structural calculations, a Party Wall process or other specialist information before work begins.
Do planning drawings guarantee approval?
No planning application can be guaranteed. Clear, accurate drawings help the local authority assess the proposal and reduce the risk of delays caused by missing or inconsistent information.
David Balkind — Founder, Draw & Plan
More than 20 years’ architectural experience, with professional architectural registration obtained in South Africa in 2007. David founded Draw & Plan in London in 2014.
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Clear, fixed fees from an established drawing practice serving homeowners since 2014 and rated 4.9 on Google. Tell us about your project through our Contact page.
From £1,450 + VATFixed feesSince 2014★ 4.9 Google rating