Built without planning permission? We can help you regularise unauthorised work with a professionally prepared retrospective planning application.
You’ve already built—now you need to fix it. We specialise in retrospective planning applications, planning breaches, and unauthorised works, helping homeowners and developers regularise unauthorised development and reduce the risk of enforcement action.
Speak to a Retrospective Planning Consultant
Our retrospective planning consultants assess unauthorised development, identify the most appropriate route to regularise the work and prepare the planning application, drawings and supporting documents required. We can submit the application and deal with the council on your behalf.
We provide expert retrospective planning support for homeowners and developers who have built without planning permission. If you need a retrospective planning application, retrospective planning permission, or guidance after a planning breach, we offer fast, specialist advice. Our retrospective planning consultants prepare robust applications, advise on planning refusals, and provide planning appeal support where retrospective permission has been refused. Whether you’ve built an extension without permission or received a planning notice, we provide clear, practical guidance to help present the strongest possible planning case.
Full Retrospective Planning Application Service
Planning World provides a complete retrospective planning application service for homeowners, landlords and developers who have already carried out work without the necessary planning permission.
Our retrospective planning consultants review the development and planning history, assess the relevant local planning policies and identify the most appropriate strategy for regularising the works. Where required, we prepare the planning drawings, planning statement and supporting documents, submit the retrospective planning application and act as your planning agent when dealing with the council.
We manage the process from initial assessment through to the council’s decision, responding to planning queries and advising on any issues that arise. If the council has already contacted you about the unauthorised works, we will also consider the potential enforcement implications before recommending the appropriate route forward.
Carrying out development without planning permission does not automatically constitute a criminal offence, but it can expose you to planning enforcement action. Different rules and consequences can apply to listed buildings and where formal enforcement action has already been taken.
Councils typically discover unauthorised works through:
If they’ve contacted you already, you may have received:
These may form part of the council’s investigation before it decides whether formal enforcement action is appropriate
Yes. Retrospective planning permission can be granted where the development is considered acceptable in planning terms. The council assesses the development on its planning merits, taking account of relevant local and national planning policies and other material considerations
Approval is more likely when:
Refusal is more likely when:
If your case fits any of these, you need a strong mitigation strategy.
Officers look at:
This is exactly what we prepare your application around.
We prepare:
This helps ensure the council has the drawings, planning justification and supporting evidence needed to assess the application properly.
Typical documents include:
Send us your documents or property details and we’ll prepare a fully compliant retrospective planning appraisal tailored to your specific case.
Upload your documents or council correspondence and get a same-day retrospective planning assessment.
We handle retrospective planning applications across the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea, including cases involving unauthorised extensions, alterations and development within conservation areas. Applications are prepared with reference to the relevant local planning, design, heritage and amenity policies.
We handle retrospective planning applications across the London Borough of Camden, including unauthorised extensions, loft conversions, alterations and changes of use. Applications are prepared with reference to the relevant local planning policies, including design, heritage, residential amenity and the impact on neighbouring properties.
Where development has already been completed, our retrospective planning consultants assess the planning issues, prepare the necessary drawings and supporting justification, and deal with Camden Council throughout the application process.
We handle retrospective planning applications across Westminster, including unauthorised extensions, alterations and basement works. Applications are prepared with reference to Westminster’s relevant design, heritage, amenity and development policies.
We handle retrospective planning applications across the London Borough of Islington, including unauthorised extensions, loft conversions, alterations and changes of use. Applications are prepared with reference to the relevant local planning policies, including design, heritage, residential amenity and the impact on neighbouring properties.
Where works have already been carried out without the necessary planning permission, our retrospective planning consultants assess the development, prepare the required drawings and supporting planning justification, and deal with Islington Council throughout the application process.
We handle retrospective planning applications across Richmond upon Thames, including unauthorised extensions, alterations and development affecting conservation areas and other areas subject to specific planning constraints. Applications are prepared with reference to relevant local planning, design, heritage and amenity policies.
Yes. If development has already been carried out without the required planning permission, you can apply for retrospective planning permission. The council will assess the development on its planning merits in much the same way as if permission had been sought before the work was carried out. Retrospective permission is not guaranteed, so it is important that the application properly addresses relevant planning policies, design, neighbour impacts and any other material considerations.
First establish whether planning permission was actually required and whether the development may already be lawful. If permission is required, a retrospective planning application may be the appropriate way to regularise the work. If the council has already contacted you or enforcement action has begun, seek advice before submitting anything, as this can affect the options available to you.
A retrospective application is made to the local planning authority for development that has already been carried out. The application will normally need the appropriate plans, forms and supporting information required for that type of development, together with the applicable planning fee. Planning World can assess the development, prepare the necessary drawings and supporting planning case, submit the application and deal with the council on your behalf.
If retrospective planning permission is refused, the unauthorised development does not become lawful simply because an application was made. Depending on the circumstances, you may be able to appeal the refusal, revise the proposal or take steps to remedy the planning breach. The council may also consider enforcement action, which could ultimately require alteration or removal of the unauthorised development.
Yes. Planning World can review the unauthorised development, assess the planning issues, prepare the necessary drawings and supporting documentation, submit the retrospective planning application and act as your planning agent when dealing with the council. Where enforcement action has already begun, we can also assess how the retrospective application fits within the wider enforcement strategy.
Send us your documents or property details and we’ll prepare a fully compliant, retrospective planning appraisal, tailored to your specific requirements.