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Brick cottage with a tiled roof, chimneys and a front dormer window

Tower Hamlets, London

Change of use drawings in Tower Hamlets

Tower Hamlets has two change-of-use directions that investors tend to mix up: one on Class E premises turning into homes, in parts of the borough, and one on houses turning into shared houses, which reaches the whole of the council's mapped area. Our change of use drawings in Tower Hamlets start from £879 and keep the two apart.

From £679 drawings + £200 survey (£879 total), no VAT to add

  • MCIAT chartered
  • £2m PI insured
  • LABC Partnered
  • Fixed fees, no VAT to add

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We use it to check conservation areas and constraints.
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    Architectural model of a four-storey London stucco townhouse in its terrace, with a portico, area railings, sash windows, a cornice and chimney stacks
    The house as it stands: four storeys over a lower ground floor.Existing Proposed worksAn illustrative model, built for this page.

    How we work on change of use drawings

    Seven steps from first call to approval.

    The same model cut through the middle: every floor, the stair, the chimney breasts, the new mansard, rear extension and basement in section
    Section through the model: every floor on one datum.

    1. Enquiry and constraints check

      We check the property against conservation areas, listed status, Article 4 directions, tree preservation orders, flood zone and planning history. We choose the right route and send a fixed quote.

    2. Measured survey

      We survey the house on one datum: rooms, levels, boundaries, drains, trees and the neighbours' windows that the 45° and 25° tests depend on.

    3. Design options

      We model the house in Revit and show you options in 3D and plan, with the planning strategy and the precedents in your street.

    4. Design frozen

      You choose an option in writing. Nothing changes after this without your say.

    5. Independent check

      A second chartered technologist checks every sheet against the council's validation checklist and the policy. A senior review signs it off before anything is submitted.

    6. Submission

      We prepare the forms, certificates, fee and documents and submit through the Planning Portal.

    7. Officer liaison

      We answer the planning officer and make any amendments within five working days, at no charge until approval.

    Free redraws until approval. Every drawing set is checked independently, and the checker is never the person who drew it.

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    Shops and offices to homes

    The council's Article 4 page records a Class E direction for certain parts of the borough, with the entry reading certain parts of the borough, from 18 August 2022, boundary revised 14 June 2023. The direction was revised after the Secretary of State directed a boundary change, recorded as boundary revised 14 June 2023, so the current map is the one that counts.

    Inside the mapped area, converting a shop or office to homes needs a full planning application. Outside it, the national route is available: Class E to C3 by prior approval after 2 years' continuous Class E use, with 56 days for the council to decide.

    In a borough with this much commercial conversion pressure, the address check is the first line of every job.

    Rear view of brick terraced houses in London with slate roofs and chimney stacks along the shared roofline

    Local figures for Tower Hamlets

    Figures with their unit, period and source
    MeasureValuePeriodSource
    A Class E to dwellings (C3) Article 4 direction for certain parts of the borough was approved by the Mayor in Cabinet on 1 August 2022 and, per the council page, was to come into force on 18 August 2022; on 14 June 2023 the Secretary of State directed a boundary change revising the area.certain parts of the borough, from 18 August 2022, boundary revised 14 June 2023—towerhamlets.gov.uk, Council page: Article 4 Directions, Class E to residential entry
    The Article 4 direction removing the permitted development right to change a dwelling (C3) to a small HMO (C4) was approved by the Mayor in Cabinet on 29 January 2020 and came into force on 1 January 2021, for the area on the council's Article 4 Direction Implementation Area map.in force from 1 January 2021—towerhamlets.gov.uk, Council page: Article 4 Directions, HMO paragraph
    The council designated the whole borough for additional HMO licensing: privately let properties with three or more people in two or more households need a licence. The scheme is in force from 1 April 2024 until 31 March 2029.1 April 2024 to 31 March 2029—towerhamlets.gov.uk, Council page: Additional licensing, scheme summary
    Sch 2 Pt 3 Class MA, para MA.1(1)(b)Class E to C3 by prior approval after 2 years' continuous Class E use—legislation.gov.uk
    Sch 2 Pt 3 para W(11)(c)56 days—legislation.gov.uk
    GPDO 2015 art 3(9A)Homes created under PD must meet the nationally described space standard—legislation.gov.uk
    Approved Document E 2003 incl. 2015, Table 0.1aSeparating walls 43 dB DnT,w+Ctr (min); floors and stairs 43 dB airborne (min), 64 dB L'nT,w impact (max) for dwellings formed by material change of use—gov.uk
    TCPA 1990 s55(3)(a)Using a single dwellinghouse as two or more dwellinghouses is a material change of use—legislation.gov.uk
    Change of use of a building to one or more separate dwellinghouses, not more than 10: per dwellinghouse, from 1 Apr 2026610 GBP per dwelling—ribblevalley.gov.uk
    Households living in a house12 % of households living in a house or bungalow (detached, semi-detached or terraced)Census 2021nomisweb.co.uk
    Minor application decisions427 decisions1 July 2025 - 30 June 2026assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
    Minor applications granted84.3 %1 July 2025 - 30 June 2026assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
    Minor applications decided in time92.3 % decided within 8 weeks or an agreed extended period1 July 2025 - 30 June 2026assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
    Conservation areas59 named conservation areas published by the council—planning.data.gov.uk
    Listed building entries916 list entries (Historic England, within the LPA boundary)—planning.data.gov.uk

    A blank value means the figure has not been published, not that there are none. Check your own address with the council.

    Councils bordering Tower Hamlets
    Which application your project needsLawful Development Certificate decision: 8 weeks. Prior approval decision: 42 days. Householder decision: 8 weeksYour projectWithin permitted development?Lawful Development CertificatePrior approvalHouseholder applicationYesLarger rear extensionNoABC

    Which application your project needs

    The usual route for a house; flats and listed buildings follow other rules.

    A · Lawful Development Certificate decision
    8 weeks
    B · Prior approval decision
    42 days
    C · Householder decision
    8 weeks

    Houses to shared houses

    The other direction removes the right to turn a dwelling into a small HMO, and is in force from 1 January 2021. The whole borough is also designated for additional licensing, 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2029.

    The full account, including the council's room-size tables, is on our HMO conversion drawings in Tower Hamlets page.

    Dense sites, tight standards

    Only 12 per cent of households here live in houses, so most work is upper floors, railway arches and former commercial units. New homes must meet the space standard: Homes created under PD must meet the nationally described space standard.

    Sound is often the constraint in older mixed-use buildings: Separating walls 43 dB DnT,w+Ctr (min); floors and stairs 43 dB airborne (min), 64 dB L'nT,w impact (max) for dwellings formed by material change of use. If a house is being split into flats, remember Using a single dwellinghouse as two or more dwellinghouses is a material change of use; see flat conversion drawings in Tower Hamlets.

    The council's record and fees

    Tower Hamlets decided 427 minor applications in the latest published year, granted 84.3 per cent and decided 92.3 per cent in time. It has 59 conservation areas and 916 list entries.

    The fee to change a building to separate dwellings is £610 each in a scheme of not more than ten, paid to the council.

    Next steps

    For the borough overview see architectural drawings in Tower Hamlets. A lawful development certificate can settle the existing use before design starts.

    What you receive

    Planning drawing sheet for a rear extension with plans, elevations and sections
    Sample drawing. Planning drawings for a rear extension: plans, elevations and sections on one sheet set.
    Pencil resting on a dimensioned technical drawing beside a scale rule
    The street around you
    Move across the plinth — the blocks rise around the pointer.

    Other services in Tower Hamlets

    Change of use drawings nearby

    Questions

    Does Tower Hamlets restrict shop-to-home conversions?

    In certain parts of the borough. The council's page reads certain parts of the borough, from 18 August 2022, boundary revised 14 June 2023; the boundary was revised by the Secretary of State.

    Does a small HMO need permission in Tower Hamlets?

    Inside the mapped area, yes: the direction is in force from 1 January 2021.

    What does the council charge for homes created by change of use?

    £610 for each dwelling in a scheme of not more than ten.

    Sources and dates

    City of London skyline glowing at dusk across the Thames under a dramatic orange sky

    Tell us about your property.

    We check the constraints, then send a fixed fee. Messages before 3pm get a reply the same working day.

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