Double Storey Extension Drawings in Bow E3
Fixed-fee, MCIAT-chartered double storey extension drawings for Bow (E3) homeowners — London Borough of Tower Hamlets validation and local constraints handled from the start.
Bow (E3) in Tower Hamlets is defined by Tredegar Square — the most complete Georgian square in the East End, and the reason a substantial share of E3 householder work is governed by listed building consent rather than permitted development. The surrounding stock is largely Victorian terrace along Bow Road and the Roman Road, with post-war estates filling the gaps.
The Tredegar Square conservation area closely controls frontages, railings and rooflines, and many of the houses in and around the square are listed, which means external alterations need listed building consent alongside planning. Fairfield Road covers the historic industrial frontages including the former Bryant and May match factory, where conversion schemes are assessed against that industrial character, and the Tower Hamlets Cemetery conservation area brings tree protection and setting considerations to the streets nearby. We check listing and designation for an E3 address before drawing to Tower Hamlets' guidance.
Planning in Bow (E3): what to know before you apply
E3 has no householder Article 4 direction, so unlisted Bow houses outside the conservation areas retain permitted development rights for rear and loft work. The controls that matter are elsewhere: Tredegar Square is a substantially complete Georgian square where many houses are listed and listed building consent governs external alterations; Fairfield Road protects the historic industrial frontages including the former match factory; and the Tower Hamlets Cemetery conservation area adds tree and setting considerations to the surrounding streets.
Typical Bow housing stock
Georgian terraces around Tredegar Square — the most complete Georgian square in the East End — with Victorian terraces along the Roman Road and Bow Road, and post-war estates between them.
Streets we regularly draw for in Bow
Bow Road · Roman Road · Tredegar Square · Fairfield Road
What E3 is actually built of
Measured from 396 classified residential buildings in E3, not from a description of the area.
Bow E3 housing mix
Residential building form across the E3 postcode district, from 396 classified buildings.
| Attached on more than one side | 78% |
|---|---|
| Attached on one side | 16% |
| Detached | 5% |
| Median building footprint | 53 m² |
| Addresses per buildingAbove about 2 means flats and maisonettes dominate | 4.49 |
| Buildings classified | 396 |
Source: Ordnance Survey National Geographic Database (derived statistics). Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Contains Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right 2026. Extracted 2026-08-17.
Double Storey Extension Drawings for Bow (E3) homes: the package and the process
At first-floor level the drawings have to answer for daylight, privacy and massing. That means proposed elevations showing every new window with its position relative to the boundary, a section taken through the extension and the neighbouring building, and a roof form drawn to sit below the existing ridge rather than compete with it.
We draw the neighbouring property alongside your own, because the officer's assessment is comparative — the effect on their windows and outlook is the test. Setting the first floor in from the boundary, and showing that set-back as a dimension, resolves most objections before consultation begins.
At first floor the boundary relationship decides everything. A detached house has room to set the addition in on both sides; a semi has one shared wall and one clear flank; a mid-terrace can usually only go to the rear, where the effect on both neighbours has to be drawn.
Do I need planning permission for a double storey extension in London?
Almost always. Permitted development rights for two-storey extensions are far more restrictive than for single-storey work, particularly on how close the new structure can come to a boundary and how closely its roof pitch and eaves height must match the existing house, so most double storey projects are drawn and submitted as full householder planning applications rather than relying on permitted development.
Where the property sits in a conservation area or is subject to an Article 4 direction, any remaining permitted development allowance for a second storey is typically removed entirely, reinforcing the need for a full application. We check your property's status and your borough's design guidance before drawing.
How do councils control the impact of a double storey extension on neighbours?
Because a second storey introduces new windows and massing at first-floor level, London boroughs apply design guidance aimed specifically at protecting neighbouring light, privacy and outlook.
- The 45-degree rule, tested at neighbouring windows, to check the extension does not block an unreasonable amount of daylight
- A common design expectation that a two-storey side extension is set in roughly 1 metre from the shared boundary, rather than built hard against it
- A first floor commonly set back from the ground floor front elevation, so the upper storey reads as subordinate to the main house from the street
- Obscure or high-level glazing on flank walls facing directly into a neighbour's garden or windows, to limit overlooking
Matching the roofline and materials
Planning officers assess a double storey extension heavily on how convincingly it reads as part of the original house rather than an addition bolted onto the side. Our drawings match ridge height, roof pitch, eaves detail and brick or render finish to the existing building wherever the design brief allows, which is consistently one of the strongest factors in securing approval without delay or redesign. Where a subtly contrasting material is proposed instead — a different brick tone, or a zinc or slate roof against a tiled original — we set it out clearly on the elevations so the design intent reads as deliberate rather than a mismatch, which is how most London boroughs prefer a genuine design statement to be presented.
| Option | What it adds | Typical fee |
|---|---|---|
| Single-storey rear extension | A ground-floor kitchen-diner only, may qualify for permitted development | see Rear Extension Drawings, from £1,100 |
| Double storey side or rear extension | Two rooms across two floors, usually needs full planning | Full Planning pack ~£1,600–£2,400 |
| Double storey + Building Regulations (structural) | Combined pack including structural calculations for two-floor loads and foundations | Planning + Building Regs pack ~£2,200–£3,850 |
| Wraparound (rear + side return) | Combines two single-storey extensions into one L-shaped ground floor | see Wraparound Extension Drawings, from £2,200 |
Double Storey Extension Drawings in Bow E3 — FAQs
How much does a double storey extension cost to design in London?+
Do I need planning permission to add a second storey?+
Will a double storey extension overlook my neighbour's garden?+
Do I need an architect for a double storey extension?+
How long does it take to get double storey extension drawings?+
Do I need planning permission for an extension in Tower Hamlets?+
My Tower Hamlets property is listed — what consent do I need?+
Can you handle a warehouse or riverside conversion in Wapping or Limehouse?+
How long does Tower Hamlets Council take to decide?+
How much do planning drawings cost in Tower Hamlets?+
Get your free Bow planning assessment
Tell us your Bow (E3) address and ambition — we'll confirm feasibility, local constraints and a fixed fee within one working day.