Architectural drawings in Barnet

Appeals, and what they say about Barnet householder cases

Barnet's appeal record is unusual. The Planning Inspectorate decided 413 householder appeals against this council and allowed 50.6 per cent of them. Applicants who appeal here win about as often as they lose, so about half of the refusals taken to appeal were overturned.

That is not a reason to plan on appeal, and the figures say nothing about your plot. A scheme drawn to the current guidance, with the reasoning set out, is the best protection. Where the first decision goes against you, our planning appeals drawings in Barnet service builds the revised plans the inspector will read.

Alongside, the council decided 1,361 householder applications in the latest twelve months and granted 80.2 per cent, 95.1 per cent of them in time.

Trees, Article 4 and conservation areas

The borough publishes 16 conservation areas, and its Article 4 directions cover 48 separate mapped areas, which is why a roof alteration or a new front window can need an application on one street and not the next.

Trees are a larger constraint than most owners expect. Barnet has made 718 tree preservation orders over 3,219 mapped zones, and a protected tree in a neighbour's garden can still limit how close an extension may come, because its roots and canopy are protected too. We map the trees near a plot before the footprint is drawn.

Historic England lists 651 entries here, 2 at Grade I and 34 at Grade II*, and the borough holds 8 registered parks and gardens and 2 scheduled monuments. Heritage at Risk lists 9 entries.

The larger-extension route, and its refusal record here

Prior approval lets a house extend further at the back without a full application, on a narrower test. In Barnet the latest statistics show 18 of these granted and 103 refused. With a refusal count that high, we weigh the shortcut against an ordinary householder application drawn to the new guidance before we recommend either.

We still use the route when a plot genuinely suits it, and a lawful development certificate in Barnet confirms what is permitted without the council's design opinion.

What it costs to build here

The borough is in band 2 of the Mayor's levy, at £72.73 per square metre this year. The council's own levy is Barnet CIL Charging Schedule (approved by Council 1 March 2022), with the residential rate set at £361.44/m² indexed 2026 (schedule rate £300/m², residential incl. C2, C3, C4 and sui generis HMOs). Both apply to new floorspace above the exemptions, and we show any liability in the pack we give you.

Prices explain why owners extend rather than move. The average detached house sold for £1,610,998, a semi for £850,442 and a terrace for £634,437, with the all-home average showing a twelve-month change of -4.9 per cent. About 28.1 per cent of the borough is domestic garden, and 52.7 per cent of its 148,917 households own their home.

Architectural drawings and related services in Barnet

Start with planning drawings in Barnet. A house extension is covered by rear extension drawings in Barnet, and a roof project by loft conversion drawings in Barnet. For neighbouring boroughs, see Brent, Camden and Harrow.