Hammersmith and Fulham (LBHF) is notable for its borough-wide Article 4 direction for basement works, confirmed in April 2018. This means that throughout the borough, new basements and basement extensions require full planning permission — there is no borough-wide PD route for this project type. The borough has a mix of dense inner-London streets and more open areas, with significant conservation area coverage in Fulham and around Ravenscourt Park.
Common projects that may be straightforward when they fit within PD limits and local constraints.
These are the usual reasons planning permission becomes more likely in Hammersmith and Fulham.
The biggest drivers of approval are the exact proposal (dimensions and design) and the exact site constraints (designation, conditions, neighbour impacts). Use borough context as a starting point, then validate it with address-level checks and nearby precedents.
Projects that stay modest in size, match materials, and avoid obvious neighbour impacts are more likely to be straightforward — even before you consider borough-specific policies.
Conservation areas, listed buildings, Article 4 directions, flood risk and TPOs can flip the answer. Address-level checks stop you wasting money on the wrong scheme.
The fastest signal is what the council has approved or refused on comparable streets nearby. Precedent does not guarantee success, but it helps you shape a lower-risk design.
Basement proposals are highly site-specific. Always validate with an address-level check and professional advice.
Check my propertyCouncils rarely refuse the "idea" of an extension or loft conversion — refusals are usually about scale, design, neighbour impacts, and policy/designation conflicts. When you run a check, CanUBuild shows nearby approvals and refusals so you can see what has worked locally.
An invalid application cannot be registered. Use this checklist to ensure your submission is complete before you pay the fee.
Requirements can change — always verify the current validation checklist on the Hammersmith and Fulham Council website before submitting.
Search the address, choose your project type, and get an answer based on permitted development rules, local constraints, and nearby precedent decisions.
Yes — a borough-wide Article 4 direction (confirmed April 2018) removes permitted development rights for basement works across the whole of LBHF. Full planning permission is required for any new basement construction or basement extension anywhere in the borough.
Rear extensions and side return extensions are the most common residential applications. Side return extensions — where the narrow gap alongside a Victorian or Edwardian terrace is built into — are particularly characteristic of Fulham and parts of Hammersmith.
Some loft conversions on houses not in a conservation area can be permitted development if they stay within the volume limits and the dormer is to the rear only. Conservation area properties and any front-facing changes to the roof will typically need planning permission.
Use LBHF's interactive map on the council website, or use the CanUBuild checker which pulls designation data at address level. Conservation area boundaries in LBHF are well mapped and available online.
Last reviewed: 2026-03 · This guide is for general information only. Always verify with Hammersmith and Fulham Council or a qualified planning consultant before making decisions.