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Hammersmith and Fulham · Front Garden Paving · 2026

Front Garden Paving Planning Permission in Hammersmith and Fulham: 2026 Guide

Hammersmith and Fulham has one of London's highest conservation area coverages at 56%, which affects many front garden paving proposals. Householder approvals in Hammersmith and Fulham run at around 71% with an average decision time of 11 weeks.

Verdict
Depends on constraints

In Hammersmith and Fulham, whether a front garden paving needs planning permission depends on specific constraints — conservation area, Article 4, listed status or flood risk. Check your address to see which apply.

Planning Constraints in Hammersmith and Fulham for Front Garden Paving

Conservation area coverage
56%
Approval rate (Hammersmith and Fulham)
71%
Avg. decision time
11 weeks
Article 4 directions
1
Borough-wide Article 4 for basements
High conservation area coverage
Listed buildings in Hammersmith and Fulham town centres
Article 4 directions in Hammersmith and Fulham
  • Borough-wide basement Article 4 (2018)

Permitted Development Rules

Paving the front garden is permitted development provided the hardstanding uses permeable materials, OR if the non-permeable area is under 5m².

  • Permeable paving (gravel, permeable block, permeable concrete) is PD at any size.
  • Non-permeable paving is PD only up to 5m² total.
  • Runoff must not flow onto the public highway.
  • Listed buildings and some conservation areas restrict hard surfacing.
  • Front garden trees with TPOs must be protected during works.

Read the full front garden paving planning guide for the national rules and application process.

Recent Front Garden Paving Decisions in Hammersmith and Fulham

The CanUBuild checker surfaces real recent applications close to your address — approvals and refusals — so you can see what the planning officers at Hammersmith and Fulham Council have approved for comparable schemes. Nearby precedent is one of the strongest signals for your own chances.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need planning permission for a front garden paving in Hammersmith and Fulham?

In Hammersmith and Fulham, the answer depends on whether your property sits in a conservation area (56% of the borough), is listed, or falls within an Article 4 direction. Most front garden paving proposals are permitted development for houses when they stay within GPDO limits and no local constraint applies. Check your exact address with the CanUBuild checker before spending on drawings.

Can I build a front garden paving in a conservation area in Hammersmith and Fulham?

Conservation areas in Hammersmith and Fulham typically remove several permitted development freedoms. For a front garden paving, the Larger Home Extension route and some external alterations do not apply, so a full householder application is usually required. Planning officers at Hammersmith and Fulham Council assess conservation area proposals against the specific character appraisal for the street.

How long does a front garden paving application take to decide in Hammersmith and Fulham?

Hammersmith and Fulham Council currently averages around 11 weeks for householder applications. Complex front garden paving proposals — particularly those in conservation areas or on listed buildings — can take longer. Prior approval decisions for Larger Home Extensions are typically issued in 42 days.

Next step

Check your specific address in Hammersmith and Fulham

Address-level constraints and recent decisions around the corner. No drawings needed.