PLANNING CONSULTANTS · HARROW
Planning consultants in Harrow
We prepare and coordinate the planning case and specialist reports for sites in Harrow covering Harrow, Pinner, Stanmore, Wealdstone, Rayners Lane and Kenton. This page sets out what London Borough of Harrow asks for when you apply, with links to the council's own documents.
THE COUNCIL'S DOCUMENTS
What Harrow
judges you against.
Validation list. National and Local Validation Checklist of Planning Applications and Prior Approval (Upwards Extension) Requirements (1 February 2024). An application missing a required document can be made invalid, which delays the decision.
Development plan. Harrow Local Plan 2021-2041 (adopted, 2026); Harrow Local Plan 2021-2041 adoption statement (replaces Core Strategy 2012, DM Policies 2013, Harrow & Wealdstone AAP 2013, Site Allocations 2013) (adopted, 2026).
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 Harrow.
Checked against the council's published policy and guidance. Each point links to its source.
- The Residential Design Guide SPD (2010) sets no fixed depth for single-storey rear extensions that need permission. Extra depth is expected to be set in from the side boundary by twice that depth. Source
- Two-storey rear extensions must meet the 45-degree code and are generally not possible on mid-terraced houses. Source
- The Harrow Local Plan 2021–2041 was adopted on 24 March 2026, replacing the 2012 Core Strategy and 2013 development management policies. Source
- An immediate borough-wide Article 4 direction removed permitted development rights for small HMOs in June 2026. The council must decide by 11 December 2026 whether to confirm it. Source
- Harrow has 30 conservation areas. Source
- Article 4 direction: Small HMOs. Changing a house (C3) to a small HMO (C4) needs planning permission, across the whole borough (immediate direction, confirmed 14 October 2026). Source
- 16 further Article 4 directions apply to particular areas or conservation areas. Council list
REPORTS HARROW ASKS FOR
Harrow's validation list, report by report.
Which of these your application needs depends on the project and the site. In Harrow, extra reports are triggered most often by a conservation area, a listed building, flood zones 2 and 3, flood3, near a listed building, tall buildings. Enter the address in our application checker to see the list for your site.
| Report | Level | When it is needed | Policy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordable Housing Statement | Required | Required for schemes of 10 or more dwellings.Applies to: major schemes | Core Strategy CS1.J; DM24 |
| Biodiversity Net Gain Assessment | Required | Required for applications subject to mandatory biodiversity net gain unless an exemption applies (householder schemes are exempt nationally).Applies to: one new home, 2 to 9 homes, major schemes, commercial, changes of use, basements | TCPA 1990 Sch. 7A |
| Design and Access Statement | Required | Required for all major development.Applies to: major schemes | DMPO 2015 Art. 9 |
| Energy Assessment | Required | Required for major development.Applies to: major schemes | DM12; London Plan |
| Accommodation Management Plan | Where relevant | Needed for specialist housing such as care homes, supported housing and student accommodation.Applies to: changes of use, major schemes, commercial | DM29 |
| Air Quality Assessment | Where relevant | For major applications only, where the uses or traffic generated could affect air quality or the site is in or near an AQMA.Applies to: major schemes | DM1 |
| Tree Survey / Arboricultural Assessment | Where relevant | Needed where trees are on or next to the site, including street trees, following BS5837.Applies to: all applications | DM22; BS5837 |
| Contaminated Land Survey and Report / Desk Top Study | Where relevant | Needed where contamination is known or suspected and groundworks are proposed, or where a sensitive use (homes, schools, nurseries) is proposed; a desk study also applies to contaminated sites over 250 sqm in a source protection zone.Applies to: one new home, 2 to 9 homes, major schemes, commercial, changes of use, basements | DM15 |
| Daylight and Sunlight Assessment | Where relevant | Needed for buildings over four storeys next to developed land or open space, where buildings overshadow others within the site, or where the site is heavily shaded.Applies to: major schemes, 2 to 9 homes, commercial | DM1 |
| Design and Access Statement (designated areas) | Where relevant | In a conservation area, needed for one or more new dwellings or 100 sqm+ of floorspace (including householder schemes); also needed with listed building consent.Applies to: house extensions, one new home, 2 to 9 homes, commercial, changes of use, basements | DMPO 2015 Art. 9; LB&CA Regs 1990 reg. 3 |
| Biodiversity statement / ecological surveys | Where relevant | Needed for sites in or next to a SINC, and for roof/loft alterations, works beyond the building footprint, or lighting/landscape changes that could affect protected species.Applies to: all applications | DM20, DM21, DM22 |
| Economic Statement | Where relevant | Needed for major schemes adding employment floorspace and for proposals involving loss or change of employment land.Applies to: major schemes, changes of use, commercial | DM31, DM32 |
| Financial Viability Appraisal | Where relevant | Needed where policy-compliant on-site affordable housing is not offered.Applies to: major schemes | Core Strategy CS1.J |
| Flood Risk Assessment (site-specific) | Where relevant | Needed in Flood Zones 2/3 (including minor works like extensions), in mapped surface water risk areas and Critical Drainage Areas, and for sites of 1 ha+ in Zone 1.Applies to: all applications | DM9 |
| Heritage Statement | Where relevant | Needed where the proposal affects a listed building, conservation area, registered park, scheduled monument, locally listed asset or Archaeological Priority Area, including their settings.Applies to: all applications | DM7 |
| Landscaping details with Maintenance and Management Plan | Where relevant | Needed where the application includes landscaping.Applies to: one new home, 2 to 9 homes, major schemes, commercial | DM22 |
| Lighting Assessment | Where relevant | Needed for publicly accessible schemes with external lighting near homes, listed buildings, conservation areas or open countryside.Applies to: major schemes, commercial, changes of use | DM1 |
| Noise Impact Assessment | Where relevant | Needed where the development could cause noise disturbance or would be exposed to existing high noise levels.Applies to: all applications | DM1 |
| Open Space Assessment | Where relevant | Needed for development on designated open space that would cause a net loss.Applies to: major schemes, 2 to 9 homes, commercial | DM18 |
| Fire Safety Statement and/or Fire Safety Strategy | Where relevant | A fire statement on the prescribed form where national rules apply, and a fire strategy addressing London Plan D12(A) criteria.Applies to: one new home, 2 to 9 homes, major schemes, commercial, changes of use | DMPO 2015 Art. 9A; London Plan D12 |
| Planning Statement | Where relevant | Generally expected to explain the proposal against policy; major schemes should add a non-technical summary and, for larger schemes, a phasing plan.Applies to: one new home, 2 to 9 homes, major schemes, commercial, changes of use | Harrow DM1 (2013) |
| Retail Impact Assessment / Sequential Test | Where relevant | Needed for retail/leisure over 2,500 sqm, smaller schemes likely to harm centres, and out-of-centre town centre uses.Applies to: major schemes, commercial, changes of use | DM35; NPPF |
| Sequential Test (Flooding) | Where relevant | Required for major new development in Flood Zones 2 or 3.Applies to: major schemes | DM9; PPG Flood Risk |
| Statement of Need (community facilities) | Where relevant | Needed for new, intensified, replaced or lost community/leisure (former D1/D2) facilities.Applies to: changes of use, commercial, major schemes | DM47 |
| Sustainable Drainage (SuDS) / Surface Water Drainage Strategy | Where relevant | Required for all major and minor developments (the FRA section says this includes a single new dwelling) and any development in a Critical Drainage Area.Applies to: one new home, 2 to 9 homes, major schemes, commercial, changes of use | DM10 |
| Sustainability Statement | Where relevant | Major and minor schemes should provide one covering energy, materials, greening and climate adaptation.Applies to: one new home, 2 to 9 homes, major schemes, commercial | DM12 |
| Protected View Assessment | Where relevant | Needed where development would affect a designated protected view.Applies to: major schemes, commercial, 2 to 9 homes | DM33 |
| Transport Statement / Transport Assessment | Where relevant | Needed where the scheme has parking or traffic implications; major schemes need a full Transport Assessment.Applies to: one new home, 2 to 9 homes, major schemes, commercial, changes of use | DM43 |
| Travel Plan (draft) | Where relevant | Needed where the scheme has significant transport implications.Applies to: major schemes, commercial | DM43 |
| Ventilation/Extraction Statement | Where relevant | Needed for restaurant, pub and takeaway uses and other commercial uses needing substantial ventilation.Applies to: changes of use, commercial, major schemes | DM1 |
| Waste Management Strategy / Site Waste Management Plan | Where relevant | Small schemes need refuse storage details; larger schemes a waste management strategy, and new developments a site waste management plan.Applies to: one new home, 2 to 9 homes, major schemes, commercial | DM45; West London Waste Plan |
| Wind Study | Where relevant | May be required for tall buildings, defined as 30 m or more.Applies to: major schemes, commercial | DM1; Core Strategy |
OUR SERVICES IN HARROW
Every report, one coordinated team.
All 54 services are available for sites in Harrow. 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 HARROW
Applications we have supported here.
Neighbouring councils
YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED
Planning in Harrow: FAQs
Still have a question?
Tell us about the site and we will confirm what Harrow will need and what it should cost.
Make an enquiryWhich reports does Harrow require for a house extension?
Harrow's list adds reports mainly when the site has constraints, such as a conservation area, a listed building, flood zones 2 and 3, flood3, near a listed building, tall buildings. Drawings and the forms are always needed. Our application checker lists the reports for your address.
How up to date is Harrow's validation list?
The list we use is "National and Local Validation Checklist of Planning Applications and Prior Approval (Upwards Extension) Requirements", dated 1 February 2024. Councils revise their lists, so we confirm the current version before you commission reports.
Do you cover every part of Harrow?
Yes. We work across the whole of Harrow, including the postcode districts HA1, HA2, HA3, HA5, HA7, HA8 and areas such as Harrow, Pinner, Stanmore, Wealdstone, Rayners Lane and Kenton.
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 Harrow?
Tell us about the site and what you want to build. We will tell you which reports Harrow is likely to need and what they should cost.
Call 020 8004 4464 or email info@greencodeconsultants.com.