PLANNING CONSULTANTS · CROYDON
Planning consultants in Croydon
We prepare and coordinate the planning case and specialist reports for sites in Croydon covering Thornton Heath, South Norwood, Norbury, Addiscombe, Purley and Coulsdon. This page sets out what London Borough of Croydon asks for when you apply, with links to the council's own documents.
THE COUNCIL'S DOCUMENTS
What Croydon
judges you against.
Validation list. Local Validation List: Guidance on Submitting a Valid Planning Application (May 2026). An application missing a required document can be made invalid, which delays the decision.
Development plan. Croydon Local Plan 2018 (adopted, 2018); Croydon Local Plan Review (to 2040) (emerging, Subm).
National policy. The National Planning Policy Framework and, for every London council, the London Plan 2021 sit alongside the local plan.
LOCAL PLANNING POINTS
Things that shape applications in Croydon.
Checked against the council's published policy and guidance. Each point links to its source.
- The Suburban Design Guide SPD (SPD2, 2019) was revoked and has not been used to decide planning applications since 26 July 2022, so extensions are assessed against Local Plan policy rather than its design rules. Source
- A borough-wide Article 4 direction has removed permitted development rights for converting a house or flat to a small HMO since 28 January 2020, so this change of use needs planning permission. Source
- There are 21 conservation areas in Croydon. Source
- New licensing schemes started on 1 September 2026 for five years: selective licensing in 14 of the borough's 28 wards and additional HMO licensing across the whole borough. Source
- A partial review of the Croydon Local Plan (2018) was submitted for examination on 29 November 2024; hearings ended in October 2025 and further main modifications are to go to public consultation. Source
- Article 4 direction: Houses in multiple occupation. Converting a house into a small HMO (C3 to C4) needs planning permission, across the whole borough. Source
- 7 further Article 4 directions apply to particular areas or conservation areas. Council list
REPORTS CROYDON ASKS FOR
Croydon's validation list, report by report.
Which of these your application needs depends on the project and the site. In Croydon, extra reports are triggered most often by protected species, flood zones 2 and 3, flood3, critical drainage areas, nature conservation sites, land with a previous industrial use. Enter the address in our application checker to see the list for your site.
| Report | Level | When it is needed | Policy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Quality Assessment | Required | Required for all major schemes, since the whole borough is an Air Quality Management Area; off-site mitigation contributions may follow.Applies to: major schemes | CLP18 DM16, DM23; LP21 SI 1 |
| Biodiversity Statement / BNG Statement | Required | Every application must say whether the BNG condition applies. Exempt schemes give an exemption statement; others need an ecologist's BNG statement with the statutory metric and habitat plan, plus a fuller BNG assessment where more than 25 m2 of vegetation is affected.Applies to: all applications | CLP18 DM27; LP21 G6; Environment Act BNG regime |
| Daylight / Sunlight Assessment | Required | Required for major schemes using BRE methods, with results tables supplied in editable form.Applies to: major schemes | CLP18 DM10.6; LP21 D6, D9 |
| Inclusive Design Statement | Required | Required for minor applications and above.Applies to: one new home, 2 to 9 homes, major schemes, commercial, changes of use | CLP18 DM10, DM13; LP21 D5, D7 |
| Energy Assessment | Required | Major schemes must show how they reach net zero carbon, including any carbon offset payment calculation.Applies to: major schemes | CLP18 SP6; LP21 SI 2-SI 4 |
| Energy Design Statement | Required | Minor residential schemes must explain their clean energy approach and its amenity impacts.Applies to: one new home, 2 to 9 homes | CLP18 SP6 |
| Fire Statement or Reasonable Exception Statement | Required | All applications need a fire statement or a reasonable exception statement; a full statement is needed for relevant buildings (2+ dwellings or educational use and 18 m+ or 7+ storeys).Applies to: all applications | LP21 D12; London Plan Fire Safety LPG |
| Flood Risk Assessment | Required | Every application needs an FRA proportionate to the scheme, even outside flood risk areas; for householder extensions a brief statement with a flood map search may be enough.Applies to: all applications | CLP18 SP6, DM25; LP21 SI 12, SI 13 |
| Health Impact Assessment | Required | Major schemes need at least a completed HUDU Healthy Urban Planning Checklist.Applies to: major schemes | CLP18 DM16; LP21 GG3 |
| Housing Quality Statement | Required | All residential schemes must show compliance with unit mix, space standards and amenity space requirements.Applies to: one new home, 2 to 9 homes, major schemes, changes of use | CLP18 SP2, DM1, DM10; LP21 D6 |
| Planning Statement | Required | Required for minor applications and above.Applies to: one new home, 2 to 9 homes, major schemes, commercial, changes of use | LP21 DF1 |
| Transport Statement (Minors) / Transport Assessment (Majors) | Required | Minor schemes need a transport statement and majors a full transport assessment, covering parking, sight lines, swept paths and parking stress surveys where relevant.Applies to: one new home, 2 to 9 homes, major schemes, commercial, changes of use | CLP18 SP8, DM29, DM30; LP21 T4-T6 |
| Draft Travel Plan / Delivery and Servicing Plan | Required | Major schemes must submit a draft travel plan and a draft delivery and servicing plan.Applies to: major schemes | CLP18 SP8, DM29; LP21 T4 |
| Urban Greening Factor Assessment | Required | Required for all major schemes.Applies to: major schemes | LP21 G5 |
| Tree Survey / Arboricultural Report (BS5837) | Where relevant | Required wherever trees stand on or next to the site.Applies to: all applications | CLP18 DM10, DM28; LP21 G7 |
| Archaeological Assessment | Where relevant | Required for major schemes inside an Archaeological Priority Area, or on sites over 0.5 ha.Applies to: major schemes | CLP18 SP4, DM18; LP21 HC1 |
| Construction Management / Logistics Plan scoping note | Where relevant | Required for Large Minors (5+ homes or 500 m2+) and above, and may be asked for on smaller schemes.Applies to: 2 to 9 homes, major schemes, commercial | CLP18 DM23, DM29; LP21 T4, T7 |
| Contaminated Land Assessment | Where relevant | Required for major schemes on sites with a history of potentially polluting uses.Applies to: major schemes | CLP18 DM24; LP21 SD1, E7 |
| Design and Access Statement | Where relevant | Needed for 100 m2+ of floorspace, for one or more homes in a conservation area, for listed building consent, and for all Large Minors and above.Applies to: all applications | CLP18 DM10 |
| Preliminary Ecological Assessment | Where relevant | Required for Large Minors (5+ homes or 500 m2+ floorspace) and all majors.Applies to: 2 to 9 homes, major schemes, commercial | CLP18 DM27, SP7; LP21 G6; NERC Act s40 |
| Preliminary Ecological Assessment (designated sites) | Where relevant | Any application on a site in or next to a SINC, SSSI, NNR or LNR needs a PEA, whatever its size.Applies to: all applications | CLP18 DM27, SP7; LP21 G6; NERC Act s40 |
| Preliminary Roost Assessment (Bats) | Where relevant | Required for demolition, conversion of a vacant building, or works affecting features that could host roosting bats.Applies to: all applications | CLP18 DM27; LP21 G6 |
| Economic / Employment Assessment | Where relevant | Required where employment land or floorspace would be lost, with marketing evidence.Applies to: changes of use, commercial, major schemes | CLP18 SP3; LP21 E4-E6 |
| Financial Viability Assessment / Affordable Housing Statement | Where relevant | Major residential schemes need an affordable housing statement, plus a viability assessment when they do not meet the Fast Track criteria.Applies to: major schemes | CLP18 SP2, DM1; LP21 H4-H8 |
| Basement Impact Assessment (within FRA) | Where relevant | Basements proposed in areas at risk of groundwater flooding must include a basement impact assessment in the FRA covering aquifers, drainage and flood mitigation for the site and neighbours.Applies to: basements | CLP18 DM25; LP21 SI 12 |
| Heritage Statement | Where relevant | Required where development affects a heritage asset or its setting; a structural survey is also needed if demolition is proposed.Applies to: all applications | CLP18 SP4, DM15, DM18; LP21 HC1 |
| Noise and Vibration Impact Assessment | Where relevant | Required for all majors, and for minor schemes that introduce noisy uses or place noise-sensitive uses near noise sources; majors must use a qualified acoustician.Applies to: major schemes, commercial, changes of use, one new home, 2 to 9 homes | CLP18 DM10, DM23; LP21 D13, D14 |
| Original and Proposed Floorspace Calculation (Green Belt / MOL) | Where relevant | Extensions in the Green Belt or on Metropolitan Open Land must show original and proposed floorspace and volume.Applies to: all applications | CLP18 DM26 |
| Drainage Strategy | Where relevant | Required for Large Minors (5+ homes or 500 m2+) and above, showing SuDS that follow the drainage hierarchy.Applies to: 2 to 9 homes, major schemes, commercial | CLP18 SP6, DM25; LP21 SI 13 |
| Townscape and Visual Impact Assessment / Microclimate Wind Assessment (tall buildings) | Where relevant | Tall buildings need a TVIA, a wind microclimate study (wind tunnel testing expected) and a TV/radio reception assessment.Applies to: major schemes, commercial | CLP18 DM10, DM15; LP21 D9, HC1 |
| Ventilation / Extraction Statement | Where relevant | Non-residential minor schemes with plant, ventilation or kitchen extraction must describe the equipment.Applies to: commercial, changes of use | CLP18 SP6, DM10, DM23 |
| Circular Economy Statement and Whole Life-Cycle Carbon Assessment | Where relevant | Required only for major schemes that must be referred to the Mayor of London.Applies to: major schemes | LP21 SI 2F, SI 7, D3 |
OUR SERVICES IN CROYDON
Every report, one coordinated team.
All 54 services are available for sites in Croydon. Prices are starting estimates; we confirm the fee in writing before appointment.
Planning & strategy
Heritage & townscape
Water & ground
Environment & amenity
Ecology & landscape
Energy & sustainability
Transport & viability
Structure, basements & ground
- Structural feasibility notes
- Structural planning statements
- Basement impact assessments
- Basement construction method statements
- Ground movement assessments
- Groundwater & hydrology screening
- Geotechnical desk studies
- Ground investigation reports
- Slope stability assessments
- Retaining wall assessments
- Demolition & construction method statements
- Construction management plans
- Structural reuse & retrofit appraisals
- Structural condition discharge statements
OUR WORK IN CROYDON
Applications we have supported here.
YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED
Planning in Croydon: FAQs
Still have a question?
Tell us about the site and we will confirm what Croydon will need and what it should cost.
Make an enquiryWhich reports does Croydon require for a house extension?
Croydon's validation list requires Biodiversity Statement / BNG Statement, Fire Statement or Reasonable Exception Statement, Flood Risk Assessment for householder applications, before any site constraints are taken into account. Constraints such as a conservation area, flood zone or protected trees add further reports. Our application checker lists them for your address.
How up to date is Croydon's validation list?
The list we use is "Local Validation List: Guidance on Submitting a Valid Planning Application", dated May 2026. Councils revise their lists, so we confirm the current version before you commission reports.
Do you cover every part of Croydon?
Yes. We work across the whole of Croydon, including the postcode districts CR0, CR2, CR3, CR5, CR7, CR8, CR9, CR90, SE19, SE25, SW16 and areas such as Thornton Heath, South Norwood, Norbury, Addiscombe, Purley and Coulsdon.
Where are you based?
Our office is at Unit D New Wave House, 4 Humber Road, London NW2 6DW, and we work on sites across all 32 London boroughs, the City of London and OPDC.
YOUR NEXT STEP
Planning an application in Croydon?
Tell us about the site and what you want to build. We will tell you which reports Croydon is likely to need and what they should cost.
Call 020 8004 4464 or email info@greencodeconsultants.com.