The permitted development rules for wraparound extensions
A wraparound combines a side-return infill with a rear extension. Permitted development assesses each part separately, so the side element must stay within half the width of the original house and the rear element within 3 m or 4 m, and the two together must not exceed 50 per cent of the land around the original house.
Because the combined footprint is treated as an extension wrapping the corner, most wraparounds on London terraces fall outside permitted development and need a householder planning application. A Lawful Development Certificate is worth pursuing only where each element clearly meets its own limits.
What changes in Camden
The side element is not permitted development in a conservation area, so a wraparound there always needs planning permission, designed to the area's appraisal.
The local constraints that most often decide the route in Camden are listed below, taken from our Camden area page. Each one is a reason to confirm the address on Camden's constraints map before relying on permitted development.
- Conservation areas. Camden has around 40 conservation areas covering a large share of its housing, including Hampstead, Belsize, Primrose Hill, Bloomsbury, Kentish Town, Fitzjohns/Netherhall and West End Green. Roof extensions are not permitted development inside them, and each area has a published appraisal and management strategy that officers apply closely. Source
- Listed buildings. Camden has thousands of listed buildings, concentrated in Bloomsbury, Hampstead, Highgate and Primrose Hill. Listed building consent is needed for almost any alteration, internal or external, in addition to planning permission. Source
- Article 4 directions. Camden has Article 4 directions in a number of conservation areas removing permitted development for front alterations and other works, and a direction restricting Class MA commercial-to-residential conversions in the Central Activities Zone and some town centres. Check the council's constraints map before relying on permitted development or prior approval. Source
What Camden planning officers look for
Camden is one of the more demanding London authorities for householder work. Officers apply the CPG documents closely and pay particular attention to the uniformity of terrace rear elevations, the depth and height of rear extensions relative to neighbours, and roof additions in conservation areas, where a mansard or dormer is often only accepted if it matches an established pattern in the terrace. Front dormers and full-width box dormers are routinely refused. Camden offers a paid pre-application service and we strongly recommend it for anything in a conservation area or involving a basement. Decisions frequently run past the statutory 8 weeks; allow 12–16 weeks.
Fees and timelines
The council fee for a householder application is £528 and for a Lawful Development Certificate £264 (England, from 1 April 2025; verify before applying). Both are decided within 8 weeks of validation.
Our own fee for the drawings and the application is fixed once quoted and depends on the project type, its size and the constraints above. Answer six questions in the quote tool and we email you an indicative figure within minutes, then a written fixed-fee quote within 24 hours.
