Planning and building regulation drawings in Mill Hill (NW7)

The conservation area carries Article 4(2) directions over the cluster around The Forge and Lawrence Street and over much of The Ridgeway, including Wills Lane, Winterstoke Gardens and Milespit Hill. Those directions take away permitted development rights for house enlargement, roof alterations, porches and outbuildings, so work that could be permitted development elsewhere needs planning permission here. Even a modest porch or a garden room is a planning matter on those streets.

Materials matter too. The brick-and-weatherboard character of the cottages means detailing on any addition is closely controlled, and officers will want to see that new work respects it. Beyond the built cottages, much of the surrounding land is green belt and has its own agricultural Article 4 direction, which tightly limits what can be added further out. Our first step for a Mill Hill address is to establish whether it falls inside one of the Article 4 areas, because that single answer sets the route for everything else.

Planning in Mill Hill: what to know before you apply

In Mill Hill the starting assumption for any householder project inside the Article 4(2) areas is a full planning application. Barnet's usual position, that its semi-detached houses keep rights for rear extensions and lofts, does not carry over to these streets, where enlargements, roof changes, porches and outbuildings all need consent. Materials and detailing are closely controlled, so drawings need to show elevations and finishes in enough detail to answer those points before they are raised. Land beyond the cottages is green belt with its own agricultural Article 4 direction, which tightly limits development there. We map the designations against your address first and tell you which route applies.

Applications are decided by London Borough of Barnet — its planning pages.