Planning and building regulation drawings in Rainham (RM13)
Rainham pairs a small historic village core with wide belts of newer housing. Near Rainham Hall and the medieval church the buildings are tightly grouped, while out toward the marshes the roads are lined with 1930s and postwar semi-detached and terraced houses. Upminster Road North, Lambs Lane South, Brookway and Elizabeth Road are among the district's streets. Most of these homes are unlisted family houses with generous back gardens, which suits rear extensions, side infills and loft conversions.
- MCIAT chartered technologists
- London Borough of Havering granted 83% of 1019 householder applications
- Drawings in about 7 days
The village core is the main exception. Rainham Village conservation area tightens design and materials there, so a project close to the old church is judged differently from one on a postwar road a few minutes away. Havering has no published householder Article 4 direction for the district, which makes that conservation area the principal control. Away from the core, permitted development often applies to the interwar and postwar stock, and the question becomes whether the proposed work stays within the limits.
Being near the marshes and the Thames floodplain adds another consideration. Lower-lying plots can raise surface-water and flood-risk questions, which may need to be addressed as part of an application. Mature street trees along the residential avenues can also carry tree preservation orders or root-protection implications, so siting a rear extension or a new access requires a look at what is growing nearby before the design is fixed.
Planning in Rainham: what to know before you apply
Havering handles Rainham householder work through its standard rules, with Rainham Village conservation area as the one area control. Inside it, roof enlargements, side extensions and rear extensions of more than one storey are not permitted development, and officers pay close attention to materials and the historic setting. Elsewhere, interwar and postwar houses often keep their permitted development rights, so a rear extension or loft that stays within the limits can avoid an application. Lower-lying plots near the marshes may trigger flood-risk and surface-water questions, and protected street trees can alter where an extension or access can go. Flats have no householder permitted development rights. We check these points for your address before drawing.
Applications are decided by London Borough of Havering — its planning pages.
Does your Rainham project need planning permission?
Rainham (RM13) in numbers
What London Borough of Havering has decided, and what RM13 is built of — the two facts that shape every job here.
Householder planning decisions — London Borough of Havering
Rainham (RM13) applications are decided by London Borough of Havering; these are its published householder figures for the last four quarters.
| Householder applications decided2025 Q2 to 2026 Q1 | 1,019 |
|---|---|
| Granted | 844 |
| Refused | 175 |
| Grantedof 1019 decisions · England 90% | 83% |
| Decided within 8 weeksof 586, excluding prior approvals | 97% |
Source: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (PS2 district planning application statistics). Open Government Licence v3.0 Extracted 2026-09-22.
Permitted development prior approvals — London Borough of Havering
How the larger-home-extension route has fared with London Borough of Havering, which decides RM13 notifications.
| Larger home extension prior approvals — not required2024 Q2 to 2026 Q1 | 340 |
|---|---|
| Prior approval granted | 42 |
| Prior approval refused | 65 |
| Grantedof 107 determined | 39% |
Source: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (PS1 district planning application statistics). Open Government Licence v3.0 Extracted 2026-09-22.
Planning appeals — London Borough of Havering
Refusals in RM13 can be appealed to the Planning Inspectorate; this is London Borough of Havering's householder appeal record.
| Householder appeals determined2021–2026 | 317 |
|---|---|
| Allowed | 140 |
| Allowedof 317 · England 36% | 44% |
Source: Planning Inspectorate appeals casework. Open Government Licence v3.0 Extracted 2026-09-22.
Conservation areas and Article 4 directions — London Borough of Havering
Register counts for London Borough of Havering. A count describes what the council has published, never a rank against another council.
| Conservation areas in the register6 dated, 1968–2010 | 11 |
|---|
Source: MHCLG Planning Data Platform. Open Government Licence v3.0 Extracted 2026-09-22.
What RM13 is built of
Residential building form across Rainham (RM13), from 361 classified buildings — the fact that decides party walls, side returns and loft headroom before any policy does.
| Attached on more than one side | 36% |
|---|---|
| Attached on one side | 49% |
| Detached | 15% |
| Median building footprint | 61 m² |
| Addresses per buildingAbove about 2 means flats and maisonettes dominate | 1.46 |
| Buildings classified | 361 |
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 2026-09-22.
- Day 0Measured survey of your Rainham property — or your existing plans if you have them.
- About 7 daysDrawings issued for your approval. Free redraws until you are happy.
- SubmissionWe validate against London Borough of Havering’s checklist and submit on your behalf.
- Council: 8-week targetHouseholder applications carry an 8-week statutory target. London Borough of Havering decided 97% of 586 recent householder applications inside it.
Source: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (PS2 district planning application statistics). Open Government Licence v3.0 Extracted 2026-09-22.
Streets and neighbourhoods in RM13
Nearby postcode districts
Rainham (RM13) — FAQs
Is flood risk a problem for an extension in Rainham?+
Will the Rainham Village conservation area affect my house?+
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