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 Haringey 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. The council offers paid pre-application advice and decisions frequently run beyond 8 weeks; allow 10–14 weeks.

Wraparound Extensions in Haringey: Planning

Wraparound extensions in Haringey depend on the house. Typical homes here: Victorian and Edwardian terraces on the Harringay Ladder and in Tottenham, Stroud Green, West Green and Bounds Green; Edwardian houses and villas in Muswell Hill, Crouch End, Fortis Green and Alexandra Park. Designations to check first: Conservation areas; Article 4 direction on HMOs; Article 4 directions in conservation areas. Applications are decided by London Borough of Haringey and the Haringey Local Plan (Strategic Policies 2017 and Development Management DPD 2017).

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 Haringey

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

Conservation areas. Haringey has around 29 conservation areas, including Highgate, Muswell Hill, Crouch End, Alexandra Palace and Park, Rookfield, Noel Park, Tower Gardens, Bruce Castle and Tottenham Green. Source
Article 4 direction on HMOs. Haringey has an Article 4 direction removing permitted development for changing a house (Class C3) into a small house in multiple occupation (Class C4). Source
Article 4 directions in conservation areas. Several conservation areas, including Noel Park, Tower Gardens, Rookfield and parts of Highgate and Muswell Hill, have Article 4 directions removing permitted development for front alterations, windows, boundary treatments and some roof works. Source
Lee Valley flood risk. Tottenham Hale, Northumberland Park, the Tottenham Marshes edge and land along the Moselle and Pymmes Brooks sit in Flood Zones 2 and 3. Source
Listed buildings. Highgate village, Bruce Castle, Tottenham High Road and Tottenham Green contain concentrations of listed buildings. Source

What Haringey planning officers look for

Haringey officers are protective of the unbroken rear elevations and rooflines of the Ladder and Tottenham terraces, and of the Edwardian roofscapes of Muswell Hill and Crouch End. Common refusal reasons are rear extensions that fail the 45-degree test, full-width box dormers, dormers that wrap a hipped roof, front dormers and roof extensions in conservation areas. Outside conservation areas a rear dormer within 40 m³ and a 3 m or 6 m rear extension are routinely lawful. The council offers paid pre-application advice and decisions frequently run beyond 8 weeks; allow 10–14 weeks.

Fees and timelines

Haringey 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 Haringey: planning: the council's own constraints map, validation checklist and pre-application service.

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