PLANNING CONSULTANTS · WANDSWORTH
Planning consultants in Wandsworth
We prepare and coordinate the planning case and specialist reports for sites in Wandsworth covering Battersea, Balham, Tooting, Earlsfield, Putney and Southfields. This page sets out what London Borough of Wandsworth asks for when you apply, with links to the council's own documents.
THE COUNCIL'S DOCUMENTS
What Wandsworth
judges you against.
Validation list. Wandsworth Borough Council Local Validation Checklist (July 2026 (cover date)). An application missing a required document can be made invalid, which delays the decision.
Development plan. Wandsworth Local Plan 2023-2038 (adopted, 2023); Wandsworth Local Plan Partial Review (replaces LP23, LP24, LP28-LP31) (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 Wandsworth.
Checked against the council's published policy and guidance. Each point links to its source.
- The Wandsworth Local Plan was adopted on 19 July 2023 and is the main policy document for planning applications in the borough. Source
- Rear extensions should be subservient to the original house, and two-storey extensions directly on the boundary with a neighbour should be avoided (Housing SPD, 2016). The SPD predates the 2023 Local Plan, so it is used as guidance alongside the newer policies. Source
- Multi-level basements are not considered appropriate in Wandsworth, and the council's guide treats keeping at least half the depth of the back garden as good practice (Basements: a Householder Guide). Source
- Wandsworth has 46 conservation areas, which vary in size and character. Source
- Additional HMO licensing covers the whole borough from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2030. Source
- Selective licensing has applied since 1 July 2025 to all private rented homes in the Furzedown, South Balham, Tooting Bec and Tooting Broadway areas. Source
- Article 4 direction: Class E to residential. Converting commercial, business and service premises (Class E) to homes needs planning permission in 60 defined areas across the borough (parts of the Central Activities Zone, town centres and parades, and key business and industrial areas). Source
- Article 4 direction: Public houses and bars. Change of use, demolition and some alterations (gates, fences, walls, painting) of 120 named pubs and bars across the borough need planning permission. Source
- 10 further Article 4 directions apply to particular areas or conservation areas. Council list
REPORTS WANDSWORTH ASKS FOR
Wandsworth's validation list, report by report.
Which of these your application needs depends on the project and the site. In Wandsworth, extra reports are triggered most often by a listed building, a conservation area, protected species, archaeological priority areas, near a listed building, nature conservation sites. Enter the address in our application checker to see the list for your site.
| Report | Level | When it is needed | Policy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sustainability and Energy Assessment (incl. zero carbon / carbon offsetting) | Required | All new homes and major non-residential schemes need an energy assessment showing zero-carbon standards, with offsetting only where targets cannot be met on site.Applies to: one new home, 2 to 9 homes, major schemes | Local Plan LP10, LP11; London Plan SI2 |
| Fire Safety Strategy / Fire Statement | Required | All developments need a fire safety strategy (smaller schemes may submit an exemption statement); all majors need a full fire statement.Applies to: all applications | Local Plan LP27; London Plan D12 |
| Planning Statement | Required | Every full and outline application must include a planning statement.Applies to: one new home, 2 to 9 homes, major schemes, changes of use, commercial, basements | Wandsworth Local Plan LP2 |
| Statement of Community Involvement | Required | All major applications must include a statement of community involvement.Applies to: major schemes | Local Plan LP1 |
| Urban Greening Factor calculation | Required | All major developments must calculate their Urban Greening Factor.Applies to: major schemes | Local Plan LP57; London Plan G5 |
| Whole Life Cycle Assessment | Required | All major applications must include a whole life-cycle carbon assessment.Applies to: major schemes | Local Plan LP10; London Plan SI2 |
| Air Quality Assessment | Where relevant | Required for major or large schemes and any proposal that may affect air quality; the whole borough is an AQMA.Applies to: major schemes, commercial, changes of use | Local Plan LP14; London Plan SI1 |
| Tree Survey / Arboricultural Report | Where relevant | Required where trees on or next to the site could be affected.Applies to: all applications | Local Plan LP56; London Plan G7 |
| Archaeological Assessment | Where relevant | Required for any ground disturbance within an Archaeological Priority Area.Applies to: all applications | Local Plan LP3 |
| Construction Method Statement (basements to heritage assets) | Where relevant | Any basement scheme affecting a listed building or other heritage asset must include a construction method statement.Applies to: basements | Local Plan LP10 |
| Construction Management Plan | Where relevant | Required for all majors and for confined sites (including basements), sites near sensitive receptors, or schemes with substantial demolition or excavation.Applies to: major schemes, basements | Local Plan LP14, LP50; London Plan T7 |
| Contaminated Land Assessment | Where relevant | At least a preliminary risk assessment is needed where a sensitive end use is proposed or land is, or adjoins, potentially contaminated land.Applies to: all applications | Local Plan LP2, LP14 |
| Daylight and Sunlight Assessment | Where relevant | Required whenever the proposal may affect daylight or sunlight to the host building or neighbouring homes and gardens.Applies to: all applications | Local Plan LP2, LP15, LP27, LP28 |
| Design and Access Statement | Where relevant | Needed for major development, and in a designated area (e.g. conservation area) where one or more dwellings or 100 sqm+ floorspace is created.Applies to: all applications | DMPO 2015 (national requirement) |
| Biodiversity information (Preliminary Ecological Appraisal and BNG details) | Where relevant | Required for sites on or next to wildlife sites, rivers, open green space or protected species, with lighting and BNG management details where relevant.Applies to: all applications | Local Plan LP55; London Plan G6 |
| Viability Appraisal / Small Sites Affordable Housing Statement | Where relevant | Viability evidence applies from one gross new home or over 1,000 sqm of economic floorspace; schemes of 1-9 homes need a small-sites affordable housing statement.Applies to: one new home, 2 to 9 homes, major schemes, commercial | Local Plan LP23 (as revised by the 2026 Partial Review), LP24 |
| Flood Risk Assessment (with Sequential Test / Flood Emergency Plan) | Where relevant | Required in Flood Zones 2 and 3, and in Zone 1 for sites of 1 ha+ or with critical drainage problems; an emergency plan is needed for 10+ homes or 1,000 sqm+ in Zones 2/3.Applies to: all applications | Local Plan LP12; London Plan SI12 |
| Health Impact Assessment | Where relevant | Required for schemes of 50 or more homes, confirmed at pre-application stage.Applies to: major schemes | Local Plan LP15; London Plan GG3 |
| Heritage Statement | Where relevant | Any application affecting a heritage asset or its setting, referring to the relevant conservation area appraisal.Applies to: all applications | Local Plan LP3; London Plan HC1 |
| Lighting Plan | Where relevant | Required for lit public spaces or schemes near homes, listed buildings, conservation areas or important habitats.Applies to: all applications | Local Plan LP2, LP4, LP14 |
| Noise Impact Assessment | Where relevant | Required where noise-sensitive development adjoins a noise source, or the development would itself generate noise.Applies to: all applications | Local Plan LP2, LP14; London Plan D13, D14 |
| Parking Survey | Where relevant | Required where development is likely to reduce on-street parking.Applies to: one new home, 2 to 9 homes, major schemes, changes of use, commercial | Local Plan LP50, LP51 |
| Schedule of works and Structural Impact Assessment | Where relevant | Required where a basement or significant structural change is proposed to, or next to, a listed building.Applies to: basements, house extensions, changes of use, commercial | Local Plan LP3, LP6 |
| BREEAM pre-assessment | Where relevant | Non-residential schemes over 100 sqm need a BREEAM pre-assessment; conversions to housing need a BREEAM Domestic Refurbishment pre-assessment.Applies to: commercial, major schemes, changes of use | Local Plan LP10 |
| Circular Economy Statement | Where relevant | Required for applications referable to the Mayor of London.Applies to: major schemes | Local Plan LP13; London Plan SI7 |
| Tall Buildings Impact Assessment | Where relevant | Buildings of 7+ storeys or 21 m+ (whichever is lower) need a tall buildings assessment, with 3D modelling for majors.Applies to: major schemes, commercial, 2 to 9 homes | Local Plan LP4; London Plan D9 |
| Transport Assessment / Transport Statement | Where relevant | Majors (or schemes over TfL thresholds) need a Transport Assessment; smaller schemes with parking or access changes need a Transport Statement.Applies to: all applications | Local Plan LP50; London Plan T4 |
| Travel Plan | Where relevant | Required where there are significant transport implications or the site is sensitive and national thresholds are met.Applies to: major schemes, commercial | Local Plan LP50; London Plan T4 |
OUR SERVICES IN WANDSWORTH
Every report, one coordinated team.
All 54 services are available for sites in Wandsworth. 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 WANDSWORTH
Applications we have supported here.
Neighbouring councils
YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED
Planning in Wandsworth: FAQs
Still have a question?
Tell us about the site and we will confirm what Wandsworth will need and what it should cost.
Make an enquiryWhich reports does Wandsworth require for a house extension?
Wandsworth's validation list requires Fire Safety Strategy / Fire Statement 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 Wandsworth's validation list?
The list we use is "Wandsworth Borough Council Local Validation Checklist", dated July 2026 (cover date). Councils revise their lists, so we confirm the current version before you commission reports.
Do you cover every part of Wandsworth?
Yes. We work across the whole of Wandsworth, including the postcode districts SW1P, SW8, SW11, SW12, SW15, SW16, SW17, SW18, SW19, SW95 and areas such as Battersea, Balham, Tooting, Earlsfield, Putney and Southfields.
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 Wandsworth?
Tell us about the site and what you want to build. We will tell you which reports Wandsworth is likely to need and what they should cost.
Call 020 8004 4464 or email info@greencodeconsultants.com.