People searching for Tower Hamlets planning information normally want to:

​

• Find a neighbour’s planning application

• View submitted drawings and plans

• Check whether permission was granted

• Review the history of a property

• Understand whether their own proposal needs permission

​

Planning Application Services (PAS) is building a nationwide planning directory designed to make local planning information easier to find and understand.

​

The PAS Tower Hamlets page provides a practical starting point for homeowners, neighbours, buyers, landlords and property professionals before they enter the official planning register.

​

​

Search for a Neighbour’s Planning Application

 

The Tower Hamlets planning search can normally be used to locate an application by:

​

• Property address

• Postcode

• Street name

• Planning reference number

• Applicant name

• Application date

• Map location

​

Start with the full property address. Where this does not return the correct result, try searching without a flat number or using the road name and postcode.

​

Larger applications may be registered under a development name, site description or group of properties rather than one postal address.

​

Once the application is located, the record may include:

​

• Existing and proposed floor plans

• Existing and proposed elevations

• Roof plans and sections

• Location and block plans

• Planning and design statements

• Heritage information

• Daylight and sunlight reports

• Transport or servicing documents

• Consultation information

• Planning officer reports

• Decision notices and conditions

​

​

Understanding the Plans Next Door

 

Compare the existing drawings with the proposed drawings to see what is changing.

​

Look closely at:

​

• Extension depth and height

• Distance from your boundary

• New windows facing your property

• Balconies and roof terraces

• Changes to the roofline

• Additional floors

• New flats or changes of use

• Parking, cycle and refuse arrangements

​

Side elevations and building sections can be particularly useful when assessing height, overlooking and the relationship with neighbouring properties.

​

Planning permission does not deal with every private-property matter. Ownership, access, restrictive covenants and party wall procedures are separate issues.

​

​

The PAS UK Planning Directory

 

PAS is being developed as a dedicated UK directory for local planning authorities.

​

Each authority page is intended to help users quickly find:

​

• The local planning search

• The official planning register

• Planning application documents

• Pre-application advice information

• Common planning application routes

• Local development considerations

• Planning and architectural support

​

The official council register remains the source of formal application records and decisions. PAS provides an independent route to finding and understanding that information without searching through multiple unrelated council pages.

​

​

Planning Across Tower Hamlets

 

Tower Hamlets includes some of London’s most densely developed and architecturally varied neighbourhoods.

​

The borough includes:

​

• Bethnal Green

• Bow

• Canary Wharf

• Isle of Dogs

• Limehouse

• Mile End

• Poplar

• Shadwell

• Spitalfields

• Stepney

• Wapping

• Whitechapel

​

Planning applications range from extensions to traditional houses and alterations to flats through to tall buildings, major residential schemes, commercial development and changes affecting historic properties.

​

The planning issues surrounding a house in Bow can be very different from those affecting a tower proposal in Canary Wharf or a warehouse conversion in Wapping.

​

​

Bethnal Green, Bow and Mile End

 

Bethnal Green, Bow and Mile End contain terraced houses, converted properties, flats, estates, commercial streets and historic buildings.

​

Common proposals include:

​

• Rear and side extensions

• Loft conversions and roof additions

• Property subdivision

• Houses in multiple occupation

• New flats and infill housing

• Shopfront alterations

• Restaurant and café uses

• Changes of use

• Retrospective applications

​

Closely developed streets mean that extension depth, height, overlooking, privacy and daylight can be important considerations.

​

Roof extensions may also need to respect the original building and the wider roofline, particularly where properties form part of a consistent terrace.

​

​

Canary Wharf, Poplar and the Isle of Dogs

 

Canary Wharf, Poplar and the Isle of Dogs contain offices, apartment towers, estates, transport infrastructure, commercial premises and major development sites.

​

Larger applications may involve:

​

• Tall residential buildings

• Offices and commercial uses

• Hotels

• Mixed-use schemes

• Additional floors

• Public-realm improvements

• Waterfront development

• Redevelopment of larger sites

​

Planning information for these projects may need to address building height, townscape, transport, wind conditions, servicing, public space and the effect on neighbouring homes.

​

The scale of the supporting documents will often be significantly greater than for an ordinary domestic application.

​

​

Whitechapel, Spitalfields and Stepney

 

Whitechapel, Spitalfields and Stepney combine historic streets, markets, hospitals, commercial buildings, traditional housing and modern development.

​

Applications may involve:

​

• Conversion of upper floors

• Shopfronts and advertisements

• Restaurant and takeaway premises

• Commercial changes of use

• Roof additions

• New flats

• Alterations to historic buildings

• Mixed-use development

​

Where commercial and residential uses sit close together, applications may need to consider noise, extraction equipment, deliveries, operating hours and refuse storage.

​

​

Wapping, Shadwell and Limehouse

 

Wapping, Shadwell and Limehouse contain riverside housing, converted warehouses, traditional streets, estates and historic dock-related buildings.

​

Planning proposals may need to respond to:

​

• Riverside and dockside character

• Flood risk

• Historic warehouses

• Conservation areas

• Building height

• Views and townscape

• Noise from commercial activity

• Public access and servicing

​

Warehouse conversions and historic buildings often require a design approach that preserves their original character while allowing a practical new use.

​

​

Conservation Areas and Listed Buildings

 

Tower Hamlets contains many historic buildings, traditional streets and conservation areas.

​

Planning controls may affect:

​

• Replacement windows and doors

• Roof extensions

• Brickwork and external materials

• Shopfronts and signage

• Boundary walls and railings

• External equipment

• Demolition

• Changes to listed buildings

​

Listed building consent may be required in addition to planning permission.

​

A heritage-related application may need detailed drawings, material specifications and an explanation of how the proposal protects the character and significance of the building.

​

Some properties may also be affected by Article 4 Directions or previous planning conditions restricting permitted development rights.

​

​

Using the Tower Hamlets Planning Portal

 

The Tower Hamlets planning portal provides access to publicly available planning applications, drawings, supporting information and decisions.

​

It can normally be used to:

​

• Search by address or reference number

• View planning drawings

• Read supporting reports

• Check an application’s status

• Review approvals and refusals

• Read decision notices and conditions

• Examine planning history

• View nearby applications

• Comment during consultation

​

The portal can be especially useful when researching development near a home or property purchase.

​

Previous approvals can provide helpful local evidence, but they do not guarantee that another proposal will be accepted. Site conditions, planning policies, neighbouring relationships and building design can all result in a different decision.

​

​

Planning Permission in Tower Hamlets

 

Planning permission may be required for:

​

• House and flat extensions

• Loft and roof extensions

• Additional storeys

• Balconies and roof terraces

• New houses and flats

• Property conversions

• Houses in multiple occupation

• Commercial changes of use

• Shopfronts and advertisements

• Restaurant and takeaway uses

• Development in conservation areas

• Work affecting listed buildings

• Retrospective alterations

​

Some smaller projects may qualify as permitted development or prior approval.

​

A Lawful Development Certificate can provide formal confirmation that proposed or existing work is lawful where a full planning application is not required.

​

​

Early Planning Advice from PAS

 

Where a proposal is ambitious or uncertain, PAS can provide a desktop planning assessment before a full drawing package is commissioned.

​

This may include a review of:

​

• The property and surrounding area

• Planning history

• Comparable local applications

• Conservation and heritage restrictions

• Permitted development possibilities

• The likely application route

• Design and neighbouring amenity concerns

​

For larger or sensitive projects, PAS can also prepare and coordinate a detailed pre-application advice request supported by drawings and planning information.

​

​

Preparing a Tower Hamlets Planning Application

 

Before drawings are prepared, it is important to establish the correct application route. Depending on the project, this may include:

​

• Householder planning permission

• Full planning permission

• Prior approval

• Listed building consent

• Advertisement consent

• Change-of-use permission

• Lawful Development Certificate

• Retrospective planning permission

​

A complete submission may require:

​

• Location and block plans

• Existing and proposed floor plans

• Existing and proposed elevations

• Roof plans and building sections

• Street-scene drawings

• Design and access information

• Heritage or conservation statements

• Daylight and sunlight assessments

• Transport and parking information

• Tree, landscaping or ecology reports

• Drainage, waste or servicing details

​

​

Planning Application Support

 

Planning Application Services (PAS) can assist with planning searches, desktop planning assessments, pre-application advice, architectural drawings and the preparation and submission of applications for properties throughout Tower Hamlets.