Porch in London
Do you need planning permission for a porch in London? Here is what the permitted development rules say, how City of London Corporation’s designations change them, and what decides an application, grounded in the official guidance and quoted verbatim.
Do you need planning permission for a porch in London?
A porch is usually permitted development under Class D if it stays under 3 square metres, below 3 metres high, and at least 2 metres from any boundary fronting a highway. Whether a porch needs permission in London still depends on your exact address and the designations on it.
The starting point
A porch is usually permitted development under Class D if it stays under 3 square metres, below 3 metres high, and at least 2 metres from any boundary fronting a highway.
“This provides permitted development rights for the erection of a porch outside any external door of a house.”PD technical guidance, Class D · full text in the library → · official source →
How London’s designations apply
| Designation in London | Published |
|---|---|
| Conservation areas | 28 |
| Article 4 directions (PD removed) | 0 |
| Listed building outlines | 636 |
In a conservation area or on a listed building the appearance against the front elevation is assessed, even where the size limits are met. Counts are read live from planning.data.gov.uk; your report checks them against your exact address.
What London weighs
In a conservation area or on a listed building the appearance against the front elevation is assessed, even where the size limits are met.
As a London borough, City of London Corporation also decides against the London Plan 2021 (the strategic policy layer for all 33 boroughs), alongside national policy and its own Local Plan.
Get a planning report for your London address
A Planning Policy report reads the designations on your exact London address, quotes the City of London Corporation and national policies that apply to a porch, and (on Pro) shows decided applications nearby with outcomes.