Hackney planning: a new extensions SPD, 35 listed conservation areas and 84.3% of householder cases approved

Hackney granted 84.3% of the householder applications it decided in the 2025-26 financial year, 355 of 421, with 66 refused. That is just below the London rate of 85.6% across 24,758 decisions and well below the England rate of 90.3%. It ranks 18th of the 32 London boroughs with a published rate.

The council says it aims to assess and determine householder applications within 8 weeks of the valid date. In 2025-26, 89.2% of its standard decisions met eight weeks, 222 of 249. A further 172 decisions were made under planning performance agreements or agreed extensions of time, and those are left out of that figure.

The council's conservation areas page says there are 35 and lists them, including De Beauvoir, Clissold Park, Stoke Newington, Dalston and Hackney Wick. The national planning data register records 44. The two figures have not been reconciled, so confirm the status of your own address with the conservation team before you rely on permitted development.

Usually yes. Class B of Part 1 of the General Permitted Development Order, which allows many dormers, does not apply on article 2(3) land, and conservation areas are article 2(3) land. The council's page says dormers and minor roof alterations may need an application there. Outside conservation areas Class B can still apply, within its volume and other limits.

The council's Article 4 page lists conservation-area directions for Brownswood and Well Street, made on 9 May 2024 and effective from 9 May 2025, Beck Road, made on 28 May 2024 and effective from 28 May 2025, and part of the Shacklewell Green conservation area, effective from 22 October 2019. It does not list one for De Beauvoir, Clissold Park or Stoke Newington. Check the page for your street.

It is Local Plan 2033 (LP33), adopted by Full Council on 22 July 2020. The council says that along with the London Plan it forms the development plan used to assess proposals. It also says it has started work on a new local plan which it expects to start using in 2029, so LP33 remains the adopted plan for now.

It is the council's design guidance for householders, adopted in December 2025 and in effect from January 2026. It replaces the 2009 SPD and covers extensions, roof work, basements, front gardens and walls, outbuildings, plant and equipment, and accessibility. The council's planning policy page still lists the 2009 version, so use the SPD page to find the current document.

Possibly. The council's licensing page describes mandatory HMO licensing for 5 or more people from 2 or more households and additional licensing for 3 or 4 people from 2 or more households. A licence is not planning permission. The council's Article 4 page does not list an HMO direction, but confirm planning status separately before you convert.

The council's page lists a completed application form, a site plan, a location plan, existing and proposed elevations and floor plans, and the relevant fee. A design and access statement is only required if the property is in a conservation area. The page links to a householder validation checklist, so read that for scales and detail.

Better than the London average. The Planning Inspectorate allowed 45.8% of householder appeals against Hackney over the five years to 30 June 2026, 76 of 166, against 39.9% across London and 34.4% in England. An appeal takes months and is judged on the same policies, so a revised application is often quicker than contesting a refusal.

Yes. The council's pre-application page lists a written householder request, and a separate one for listed buildings, as a way to get feedback on proposals before you submit. It is a service the council charges for, so check its page for the current terms. Pre-application advice is generally not binding on the council.