Floor plans in Bermondsey, SE1

Houses and flats need different things from a plan

For a house, the floor plan usually leads to an extension, loft or basement design, and it needs to show wall thicknesses and levels clearly. For a flat, the plan is more often a record of the layout before internal changes, and it supports conversations with a freeholder or managing agent.

Either way the plan is built from a measured survey, which is explained on our measured building survey page. If your work touches a wall you share with a neighbour, our party wall guide tells you when the Act applies.

Southwark planning in figures

Southwark made 558 householder decisions in the four quarters to 2026 Q2, and 22% of them were prior approvals (our analysis of MHCLG planning application statistics, table PS2).

Setting prior approvals aside, Southwark made 97% of its householder decisions inside eight weeks (our analysis of MHCLG planning application statistics, table PS2).

Since 2021, 31% of the householder appeals decided against Southwark were allowed (our analysis of the Planning Inspectorate Casework Database).

Over the eight quarters to 2026 Q2 the council decided 418 certificates of lawful development (our analysis of MHCLG planning application statistics, table PS1). The lawful development certificate entry explains the purpose.

Southwark has 56 conservation-area entries on the national register (our analysis of the MHCLG Planning Data Platform conservation-area dataset); the borough's own conservation area map shows whether a Bermondsey street is covered. Our Southwark planning permission page shows how we approach applications there.