London Borough of Southwark
Planning & Conservation in Southwark
Southwark stretches from the river to Dulwich. We design and prepare planning and building regulation drawings across the borough — following Southwark’s published householder validation checklist and Dulwich’s dual Estate/council control where it applies.
The London Borough of Southwark has an extensive conservation-area portfolio — around fifty areas in all. In Dulwich, three are especially relevant: Dulwich Village (designated September 1968 and extended in 2005), Dulwich Wood (1985) and the Sunray Estate (2009), where external alterations are closely assessed and some permitted-development rights are removed.
Southwark publishes a detailed householder planning checklist. Core items include the correct form (householder for a single house — not flats), ownership certificate, CIL additional information, location and site plans, existing/proposed floor plans and elevations, and London Plan Policy D12 fire safety information or a Reasonable Exception form. Sections are required for roof height changes, basements, roof extensions and ground-level changes; design/access statements for conservation-area homes; heritage statements for listed buildings; daylight assessments where neighbour amenity is sensitive; archaeological assessment in priority areas or for extensive groundworks; and a basement impact assessment for new or extended basements prepared by a suitably qualified engineer or geologist.
Dulwich carries a second, unusual layer of control. Much of the area is subject to the Dulwich Estate Scheme of Management — a private scheme made under the Leasehold Reform Act 1967 and approved by the High Court in 1974, administered by The Dulwich Estate. It requires the Estate’s own written consent, separate from and in addition to Southwark planning permission, for works affecting external appearance. Consent from one body does not guarantee consent from the other.
We help clients assemble validation-ready packages, coordinate Estate and council tracks in Dulwich, and prepare building regulations drawings after the principle is settled. Confirm which controls apply to your property before assuming permitted development.
How planning works here
London Borough of Southwark: process for homeowners
Southwark publishes detailed householder validation checklists — including when sections, BIAs, archaeology and design/access statements are required — plus a householder SPD design standard.
Householder process
1. Application type: householder vs full
Southwark’s householder checklist is for works to a single house (extensions, lofts, outbuildings, etc.). Works to a flat need a full planning application, not householder forms. Confirm tenure before choosing the form.
2. Must-include validation items
Core requirements include the householder form, correct ownership certificate, CIL additional information form, location plan (red line), site plan, and existing/proposed floor plans and elevations. London Plan Policy D12 fire safety information or a Reasonable Exception form is also listed on Southwark’s householder checklist.
Invalid packages do not start determination. Follow Southwark’s published checklist and valid planning drawings visual guide rather than a national guess.
3. When sections, roofs and levels are required
Southwark requires existing and proposed sections when altering ceiling/roof heights, doing basement works, adding roof extensions, or changing ground levels (e.g. sunken patios). Roof plans are required when changing roofs, adding rooflights or outbuildings. Levels/gradient plans are needed when changing ground levels relative to neighbours.
4. Conditional reports
Design and access statements for conservation-area homes (and sometimes CA edges); heritage statements for listed buildings; daylight/sunlight assessments where extensions may affect neighbours; archaeological desk-based assessment in archaeological priority areas or for basements/extensive groundworks; tree surveys where trees are affected; basement impact assessment for new or extended basements.
Project types & evidence
Extensions and lofts
Design against Southwark Plan design policies and the householder SPD. Sections through neighbours matter for amenity. Lofts that change roof height need sections and roof plans on the validation list.
Basements
Submit a basement impact assessment prepared by a suitably qualified engineer or geologist who is a member of a relevant professional body. Include floor plan, section, ceiling height, access and rooflight details as set out on Southwark’s checklist. Check archaeological priority mapping for groundworks.
Design standards and heritage
Southwark points applicants to the householder SPD and heritage SPD for design expectations on ordinary and heritage homes. Completeness of the evidence list is part of assessment culture — missing daylight or heritage material delays merits.
Drawing standards
Use Southwark’s valid planning drawings guide: consistent scales, scale bars, north arrows, written dimensions on extensions, and ceiling-height notes on lofts/basements where heights fall below 2.3m. Existing and proposed sheets must tell one story.
Official sources used on this page
- Southwark — Planning checklists householder application
- Southwark — Planning permission for homeowners
Policy and Article 4 maps change. Confirm designations for your exact address on the council’s live planning map before relying on any general description.
Areas we cover
Prime neighbourhoods in Southwark
Planning in Southwark: FAQs
Do I need Dulwich Estate consent as well as planning permission?
Is my Dulwich home in a conservation area?
Can I use a householder application for a flat in Southwark?
When does Southwark require a basement impact assessment?
Do I need section drawings for a loft in Southwark?
Planning a project in Southwark?
Send us the address, property type and a short description of the work. We will advise whether you are likely to need planning drawings, building regulations drawings, listed building advice or leasehold approval drawings.