Work already carried out in London without the right permission isn’t automatically a lost cause, but it needs handling properly and honestly, since the council assesses it on exactly the same planning merits as anything submitted beforehand, refusal genuinely carries enforcement risk.
Get StartedRetrospective permission in London isn’t a formality or a rubber stamp, the council genuinely can refuse it, and refusal on already-completed work carries a different kind of risk than a refused proposal, since enforcement action can follow.
An honest assessment of the real chances, before submission, matters more here than almost anywhere else in planning, since the consequences of getting it wrong are considerably higher once work’s already been carried out.
Where the work in London has genuinely been in place for years without any enforcement action, it’s worth checking whether it may already be immune, sometimes a far more certain route than a discretionary application.
A realistic read on your chances
Reduced by acting properly now
Prepared to the same standard
Applications moved along quickly
Every London case starts with an honest look at what’s actually been built and how it measures up against current planning policy, no assumptions made either way.
From there, we prepare an application addressing exactly what London’s planning team will assess, built to the same standard as any fresh submission.
Given the genuine stakes involved, we stay engaged with London’s planning team throughout, right up to a final decision.
Every London case gets assessed properly against current policy, since telling someone the truth upfront matters more here than almost anywhere else.
We’d rather point a London client toward the more certain route, where it genuinely exists, than default to retrospective permission out of habit.
Whatever’s actually been built in London, we handle the situation properly, honest assessment first, then a genuinely well-prepared application.
Whether it’s a loft conversion planning permission scheme in London or something else entirely, the retrospective process works the same way. If you need help with a retrospective planning application, give us a call on 0330 133 5316 or fill in the form below.
A certificate of lawfulness in London confirms a legal fact once enough time’s passed without enforcement, it’s not discretionary. Retrospective permission is genuinely assessed on planning merits and can be refused.
It’s a real risk in London, refusal doesn’t just mean starting over, it can trigger enforcement action against work that’s already been carried out.
No, London’s planning team assesses retrospective applications against exactly the same policy as a fresh proposal, having already built it carries no advantage.
The fee in London matches a standard application, there’s no reduced rate for having built first and applied after.
8 weeks is standard for London, though the timeline can extend where the case genuinely needs more careful assessment.
Nothing, understanding your London situation honestly, including whether a certificate of lawfulness might apply instead, comes before any fee discussion.