Kitchen Extension Planning Permission in Wapping

Most single-storey rear kitchen extensions in Wapping fall under permitted development, meaning no full planning application is needed - but the limits are specific, and Wapping's own conservation areas can remove that right entirely on some streets.

Permitted development limits

Without full planning permission, a single-storey rear extension in Wapping is typically capped at 3m beyond the rear wall for terraced and semi-detached houses, or 4m for detached houses. Going further - up to 6m or 8m respectively - is possible via the "larger home extension" prior approval route, which means notifying neighbours through the London Borough of Tower Hamlets and clearing an objection period before building.

Height limits typically apply too - commonly around 4m maximum for a single-storey rear extension, and no higher than 4m within 2m of a boundary.

What's different in Wapping

Where the Wapping Wall conservation area, designated in 1983 and extended in 2008, and the Wapping Pierhead conservation area cover parts of Wapping, permitted development rights for extensions are commonly restricted or removed entirely - materials, roofline and even window style may need to match the existing house rather than a standard modern finish. the London Borough of Tower Hamlets's planning department can confirm your specific property's status before you commit to a design.

Get it confirmed, don't assume it

Even where permitted development likely applies, a Lawful Development Certificate from the London Borough of Tower Hamlets is a formal, low-cost confirmation that protects you if a neighbour complains or you sell the house later. A builder who works regularly in Wapping will usually have a good instinct for whether your plans qualify, but the council's confirmation is what removes doubt entirely.