Building regulations for extensions across Greenwich
Need building regulations for extensions in Greenwich? We survey the house, prepare what the council needs and deal with the officers until a decision is made.
- Guide price in GreenwichFrom £1,150 inc VAT
- Approval routeFull plans or building notice
- Timescale2–5 weeks for drawings
- Postcode districtsSE3, SE4, SE8, SE10, SE13
Planning rules that apply in Greenwich
Building regulations approval is separate from planning. In England you can use the council's building control team or a registered building control approver; a full plans application gets the drawings checked before work starts, and the inspector signs the work off with a completion certificate.
In a conservation area, national park, National Landscape, the Broads or a World Heritage Site the permitted development limits are tighter (no side or two-storey extensions without an application). Listed homes need listed building consent, and if permitted development rights have been removed, any extension needs an application.
Building over or within 3 m of a public sewer needs the water company's consent, usually through a build-over agreement, before the foundations go in.
If the work involves a shared wall, building on the boundary, or digging foundations within 3 m (sometimes 6 m) of a neighbour's building, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 applies and notice must be served before work starts: two months for work to a party wall, one month for new walls on the boundary and for excavations.
Applications are decided by the local planning authority (your district, borough or unitary council).
What is included
- Submission to the council or a registered building control approver
- Completion certificate on sign-off
- Inspection bookings throughout the build
- Structural calculations for beams, lintels and foundations
Building regulations approval and planning permission are separate. A design can have planning consent and still need changes to meet the regulations, which is why we draw for both together.
Covering Greenwich
Site visits are available across Greenwich (SE3, SE4, SE8, SE10, SE13, SE14). Neighbouring towns we cover include New Cross (1 mile), Blackheath (1 mile), Brockley (1 mile), Catford (2 miles).
Swanley, in Kent, is roughly 10 miles from Greenwich and also on our list. Across London, terraced houses with narrow side returns and tight access are the norm, which shapes everything from party wall notices to how materials reach the back garden.
What it costs in Greenwich
Fees below are our Greenwich guide (×1.3, the London factor), including VAT. Council and building control fees are extra.
| Option | What it covers | Guide price |
|---|---|---|
| Essential | Building regulations drawings for a simple single-storey extension | £1,150 – £2,350 |
| Standard | Drawings plus structural calculations | £1,650 – £3,400 |
| Premium | Complex or two-storey pack with energy calculations | £2,850 – £4,950 |
Our design fee only. Building control charges are set by your council (or, in England and Wales, a registered building control approver) and quoted separately.
For a figure based on your own dimensions, use our guide-price tool.
What happens next
Site visits are free and there is no obligation. Where drawings are needed, the design stage is priced in writing before it starts.
Free site visit
First, a site visit: we look at the house, garden, access and drains and listen to what you need.
Design and approvals
Once the layout is agreed, we deal with the council: planning permission or written confirmation that none is needed, plus building control.
Fixed written price
The price is fixed in writing once the design is settled, with a clear programme and payment stages.
Build and sign-off
The build is managed from start to finish, inspected at each stage and signed off on completion.
Common questions in Greenwich
Do you cover all of Greenwich?
Yes. We cover Greenwich and the surrounding parts of Greater London. Site visits are free and there is no obligation.
Will my neighbours in Greenwich be involved?
If a planning application or prior approval is needed, the council notifies neighbours. If the work is on or near a shared boundary, party wall notices may also be needed.
Do I need building regulations approval in Greenwich?
Yes. Almost every extension needs it, whatever the planning route. We prepare the drawings and book the inspections.
What are the insulation standards for an extension?
In England, new walls in an extension should achieve a U-value of 0.18 W/m²K, roofs 0.15 and floors 0.18, with windows at 1.4 and rooflights at 2.2. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland set their own figures.
Who are building control?
Either your local council’s building control team or a registered building control approver. Both inspect the work and issue the completion certificate.
Book a free site visit in Greenwich
We will measure up, check the planning position and give you honest guide figures.
- Free, no-obligation site visit
- Planning route checked before you spend on drawings
- Written price once the design is agreed
- Building control sign-off at the end
Prefer to talk? Call 0800 088 6341 or .
Book a free site visit
Tell us a little about the project and we will arrange a time.