Rear extension drawings for Kensington and Chelsea, £589
The Royal Borough has two Article 4 controls that matter to a house owner: basements need permission across the whole borough, and in Norland any alteration to a dwellinghouse does too. We tell you which apply.
- £439 drawings + £150 survey (£589 total)
- Basement rule explained
- Norland checked
What do rear extension drawings cost in Kensington and Chelsea?
We charge £589: £439 for the drawings, forms and submission and £150 for the survey visit, with no VAT to add. The Royal Borough’s application fee is paid to the council.
What the Kensington and Chelsea price covers
- A survey of the back addition, rear garden and levels
- Existing and proposed plans, elevations and sections
- A check of your address against the Norland Article 4 area
- Submission to the Royal Borough and replies to the case officer
| Our drawings and submission paid to us | £439 |
|---|---|
| Measured survey paid to us | £150 |
| Council householder fee paid to the council | £548 |
| Total | £1,137 |
We charge £589 in total. The £548 is paid to the council when the application goes in, and the survey is charged once if you later order building regulations drawings for the same house.
The borough-wide basement direction
The Royal Borough made an Article 4 direction on 15 April 2015 removing permitted development rights for basement extensions to single dwelling houses, in force from 28 April 2016 across the entire borough (Kensington and Chelsea Article 4). A rear extension that includes a new or enlarged basement is therefore an application, whatever the street.
For example, a ground-floor-only kitchen extension to a house in Chelsea can be tested against permitted development, while the same scheme with a lower-ground floor beneath it cannot. The council strongly recommends checking details with it before relying on any information.
Norland: any alteration needs permission
In the Norland Neighbourhood Area the Article 4 direction that came into force on 3 July 2013 covers five types of development, including the enlargement, improvement or other alteration of a dwellinghouse. The council says planning permission is required for any alterations there, to protect original details on front and rear elevations (Norland Article 4).
Norland is a conservation area, and the direction aims to preserve its character. It also covers garden buildings, hard standings in front gardens, gates, fences and walls, and some external painting. Kensington and Chelsea decided 252 of 274 householder applications inside 8 weeks in the year to June 2026, and we draw to the validation points first time.
Kensington and Chelsea rear extensions in numbers
- Borough-wide
- Area covered by the basement Article 4 direction, in force from 28 April 2016. Kensington and Chelsea: Article 4 directions
- 15 Apr 2015
- Date the council made the basement Article 4 direction. Kensington and Chelsea: Article 4 directions
- 3 Jul 2013
- Date the Norland Article 4 direction came into force. Kensington and Chelsea: Norland Article 4 directions
- 5
- Types of permitted development the Norland directions affect, including alterations to a dwellinghouse. Kensington and Chelsea: Norland Article 4 directions
- 252 of 274
- The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea householder applications decided within 8 weeks in the year to June 2026, out of all it decided (prior approvals not counted). MHCLG live table PS2, planning application statistics by district, July 2025 to June 2026 (GOV.UK)
- £96.97 per m²
- The Mayor of London’s CIL in Kensington and Chelsea (band 1) for permissions granted in 2026, owed only when a scheme is liable for CIL in the first place. Mayoral CIL: annual rate summary for 2026, Table 1 (Greater London Authority)
Kensington and Chelsea rear extension questions
Do I need permission for a basement under my extension?
Yes. The basement Article 4 direction covers the whole borough for single dwelling houses.
Does Norland need permission for alterations?
Yes, any alteration to a dwellinghouse there, says the council, to protect original front and rear details.
Does my street have a direction?
The council publishes a map of all Article 4 areas, and we check your address against it.
How fast does the council decide?
It decided 252 of 274 householder cases within 8 weeks last year. We cannot promise a date.
Other services people book with this one
- Prior approval for a larger home extension£349 drawings + £150 survey (£499 total)
- Lawful Development Certificate drawings£389 drawings + £150 survey (£539 total)
- Building regulations drawings£479 drawings + £150 survey (£629 total)
- Side return extension drawings£479 drawings + £150 survey (£629 total)
- Party wall notice£39
Price your Kensington and Chelsea extension
Send the address and a sketch. We check the controls and reply with a fixed price.