- Nation
- England
- National planning policy
- NPPF
- Planning authorities
- 33
- City
- London
What to know in Greater London
Beyond the build price, a few charges in Greater London depend on the council. Community Infrastructure Levy is only payable where an authority has adopted a charging schedule, and anyone hoping for the self-build exemption has to apply before construction begins. Ecology can add requirements too, because biodiversity net gain rules may call for new hedges, trees or wildlife features. Planning and building control fees, the structural warranty and utility connections sit on top. We list each one separately so the written quote shows exactly where the money goes.
Planning authorities covering Greater London include City of London Corporation, London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, London Borough of Barnet, London Borough of Bexley, London Borough of Brent, London Borough of Bromley, London Borough of Camden, London Borough of Croydon, London Borough of Ealing, London Borough of Enfield, London Borough of Hackney, London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, London Borough of Haringey, London Borough of Harrow, London Borough of Havering, London Borough of Hillingdon, London Borough of Hounslow, London Borough of Islington, London Borough of Lambeth, London Borough of Lewisham, London Borough of Merton, London Borough of Newham, London Borough of Redbridge, London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, London Borough of Southwark, London Borough of Sutton, London Borough of Tower Hamlets, London Borough of Waltham Forest, London Borough of Wandsworth, Royal Borough of Greenwich, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, Westminster City Council.
How it works
Free plot appraisal
We check the title plan, access, constraints and planning policy from our desk, talk the plot through with you, and visit if it looks viable. There’s no cost and no obligation.
Survey and design
A measured survey records levels, boundaries, trees and neighbouring windows. We then design a layout and house that suit the plot, the street and your budget, and decide whether pre-application advice is worth seeking.
Planning and approvals
We submit the planning application and manage it to a decision, then deal with conditions, Building Regulations approval, the structural warranty, any build-over agreement and the new utility connections.
Written quote and build
Once design and survey are complete you get a written quote. The build runs in stages — access and groundworks, foundations, frame and roof, fit-out and external works — with inspections at each key point.
Handover
You receive the completion certificate, warranty documents, Energy Performance Certificate, manuals and utility details, so the new home is ready to move into, let or put on the market.
Build in your garden in towns across Greater London
- Croydon
- Barnet
- Ealing
- Newham
- Brent
- Bromley
- Enfield
- Wandsworth
- Lambeth
- Redbridge
- Tower Hamlets
- Southwark
- Hillingdon
- Lewisham
- Greenwich
- Hounslow
- Waltham Forest
- Haringey
- Havering
- Harrow
- Hackney
- Bexley
- Barking and Dagenham
- Islington
- Merton
- Camden
- Sutton
- Westminster
- Richmond upon Thames
- Hammersmith and Fulham
- Kingston upon Thames
- Kensington and Chelsea
Questions about build in your garden in Greater London
Is your plot appraisal free for Greater London homeowners?
Yes, and there’s no obligation. It begins with a review of your title, access, constraints and the relevant policies, followed by a conversation about what you want from the land. If the plot looks viable we arrange a site visit, and you then decide whether to move on to survey and design.
How is rainwater dealt with in Greater London garden plots?
Rain from the new roof and drive must be managed on site, and for a new home that usually means a drainage plan the council will want to see. Soakaways, permeable paving, rain gardens or a controlled outflow are the usual options, depending on ground conditions and flood risk. We look at levels and soil at survey stage so the drainage design fits the plot.
Do Greater London planning rules allow new homes in back gardens?
There’s no blanket ban. National policy in England (the NPPF) and the local Local Plan set the tests: access, character, privacy, daylight, garden space, trees, parking and drainage. A home that respects the street and its neighbours has a fair hearing; one squeezed onto too small a plot is likely to struggle. Even a well-designed scheme depends on the council’s decision.
Can neighbours in Greater London combine their gardens?
Yes. Putting two or more adjoining back gardens together can allow one shared access and a better layout than separate plots. Each owner keeps their house. The owners usually sign a collaboration agreement, with an equalisation clause so that value is shared fairly even though only one garden provides the access. Each household should take its own legal advice.