How deep can the rear part of a wraparound be?

Where planning permission is needed, councils usually accept about 3 m beyond the original rear wall on a terrace, and more where neighbours have already extended to that depth. The side-return element normally runs to the rear wall of the original house.

What roof works over the side return?

A pitched glazed roof falling towards the party wall keeps the wall low for the neighbour and brings light into the middle of the plan. A flat roof with rooflights is the alternative; officers assess both against the neighbour's outlook.

Do I need party wall agreements?

Almost always. The side-return wall sits on or against the party wall and the rear extension usually bears on it, so the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 applies. We draft the notices alongside the planning drawings.

How long does Ealing take to decide?

The statutory period is 8 weeks from validation for both a householder application and a Lawful Development Certificate, and 42 days for a larger home extension prior approval. Decisions often run past 8 weeks; allow 10–14 weeks.

Wraparound Extensions in Ealing: Planning

Wraparound extensions in Ealing depend on the house. Typical homes here: Edwardian semi-detached and detached houses in Ealing, Ealing Common, Northfields and Pitshanger; Victorian terraces in Acton, Hanwell, West Ealing and South Ealing. Designations to check first: Conservation areas; Article 4 directions in garden suburbs and estates; Flood risk: River Brent and Grand Union Canal. Applications are decided by London Borough of Ealing and the Ealing Development Strategy 2026 and Development Management DPD.

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 Ealing

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 Ealing are listed below, taken from our Ealing area page. Each one is a reason to confirm the address on Ealing's constraints map before relying on permitted development.

Conservation areas. Ealing has numerous conservation areas, including Brentham Garden Suburb, Bedford Park (shared with Hounslow), Ealing Common, Ealing Town Centre, Hanger Hill Garden Estate, Haven Green and Hanwell Village Green. Source
Article 4 directions in garden suburbs and estates. Brentham Garden Suburb, Bedford Park and the Hanger Hill Garden Estate, among others, have Article 4 directions removing permitted development for external alterations, so most changes need planning permission. Source
Flood risk: River Brent and Grand Union Canal. The River Brent through Hanwell, Perivale and Greenford, and the Grand Union Canal through Southall and Alperton borders, place some streets in Flood Zones 2 and 3. Source
Green Belt and Metropolitan Open Land. Northolt, Horsenden Hill, Perivale Park and the Brent River Park include Green Belt and Metropolitan Open Land. Source
HMO Article 4 direction. Ealing may operate an Article 4 direction requiring planning permission to convert a house into a small house in multiple occupation (HMO). Source

What Ealing planning officers look for

Common refusal reasons are two-storey side extensions without a set-back from the front wall, rear extensions that fail the 45-degree test, and roof extensions in conservation areas that do not match the existing pattern. On the 1930s semis of Greenford and Perivale, hip-to-gable lofts and 4–6 m rear extensions are often possible under permitted development, but where planning permission is needed the council's guidance says a hip-to-gable on a semi will normally be refused. The council offers a paid pre-application service, which we recommend for Brentham, Bedford Park and Hanger Hill. Decisions often run past 8 weeks; allow 10–14 weeks.

Fees and timelines

Ealing decides a householder application or a Lawful Development Certificate within 8 weeks of validation. The council fee is £528 for a householder application and £264 for a Lawful Development Certificate (England, from 1 April 2025; verify before applying).

Our own fee is fixed once quoted. The quote tool gives an indicative figure in minutes and a written quote follows within 24 hours.

Primary sources

The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015, Schedule 2: the permitted development limits quoted above.
Planning Portal: do you need permission: the national guidance and the application service every council accepts.
London Borough of Ealing: planning: the council's own constraints map, validation checklist and pre-application service.

Do I need planning permission for a wraparound extension in Ealing?