Haringey has one rule for South Tottenham and a general test for everywhere else. We work out which applies to your street, then draw to it.
Yes. The House Extensions in South Tottenham SPD, revised and adopted in October 2013, is written for the terraced streets of the south of the borough. Paragraph 3.40 says ground-floor rear extensions may continue to be considered acceptable, but should not extend beyond 3 metres from the back of the original terraced house, or 4 metres for semi-detached houses. Paragraph 3.41 adds that the council assesses the effect on adjoining dwellings, with attention to privacy, sunlight and daylight, and outlook.
Outside that area Haringey's advice page for common projects does not state a depth. It lists what it will consider for a larger extension: it should be subordinate, meaning smaller in height, width and depth than the original building; it should avoid blocking sunlight to neighbouring properties; its windows should not look into neighbours' habitable rooms; it should not reduce the garden to an unreasonably small size; and it should avoid harming trees on the property or next door. It adds that permission might not be granted if the extension is generally not in line with this advice.
The two sets of tests lead to the same practical drawing: a plan and section that show the depth from the original rear wall, the neighbours' windows, the garden left over and any tree within reach. Those are the things a Haringey officer will look for first.
Five points on Haringey's advice page apply to a larger extension anywhere in the borough.
| Test | What Haringey says |
|---|---|
| Subordinate | Smaller in height, width and depth than the original building |
| Sunlight | Avoids blocking sunlight to neighbouring properties |
| Privacy | Windows avoid looking into habitable rooms next door |
| Garden | Does not reduce the garden to an unreasonably small size |
| Trees | Avoids impacting trees on the property or adjacent properties |
Haringey Council, Planning advice for common projects: rear extensions, read 25 October 2026.
The fee includes our measured visit. The bracketed figure applies if you already have measured drawings.
Haringey's advice page says that outside a conservation area or a listed building you may be able to build a single-storey rear extension without planning permission, to a depth of 3 to 6 metres on a semi-detached or terraced house, or 4 to 8 metres on a detached one. That is the larger home extension route: even then you must tell the council through the notification form, and neighbours are consulted.
Haringey's conservation area list links Article 4 directions for four areas: Noel Park, Peabody Cottages, Rookfield Estate and Tower Gardens. For example, a house on the Rookfield Estate in Muswell Hill cannot assume any permitted development right; the direction for the estate has to be read first.
Haringey decided 408 householder applications in the year to June 2026 once prior approvals are set aside, and 369 inside 8 weeks. The figure describes the borough over the year; it is not a promise for any one application.
Every figure is linked to the page or document we read.
Haringey's South Tottenham SPD of October 2013 says ground-floor rear extensions should not extend beyond 3 metres from the back of the original terraced house, or 4 metres for semi-detached properties.
Source: Haringey Council, House Extensions in South Tottenham SPD, October 2013, para 3.40Haringey says a single-storey rear extension outside a conservation area may be built without planning permission to 3 to 6 metres on a semi-detached or terraced house, or 4 to 8 metres on a detached house, after notifying the council.
Source: Haringey Council, Planning advice for common projects: rear extensionsHaringey lists 5 tests for a larger extension: subordinate, no blocked sunlight, no overlooking of habitable rooms, an adequate garden, and no impact on trees.
Source: Haringey Council, Planning advice for common projects: rear extensionsHaringey's list of conservation areas links 4 Article 4 directions: Noel Park, Peabody Cottages, Rookfield Estate and Tower Gardens.
Source: Haringey Council, List of conservation areas in HaringeyHaringey's local validation list asks for plans at 1:100 or 1:50, a block plan at no less than 1:500 and a location plan at 1:1250 or 1:2500.
Source: Haringey Council, Planning local validation listHaringey decided 408 householder applications between July 2025 and June 2026, prior approvals excluded, and 369 of them were decided within 8 weeks.
Source: MHCLG, Planning application statistics PS2, July 2025 to June 2026Permitted development allows a single-storey rear extension up to 4 metres on a detached house or 3 metres on any other house, with larger home extensions of 6 and 8 metres through prior approval.
Source: legislation.gov.uk, GPDO 2015, Schedule 2, Part 1, Class ATell us about your project and get a fixed, no-obligation quote back within one working day. If you don't need planning permission at all, we'll tell you that too — for free.
The 2013 South Tottenham SPD says ground-floor rear extensions should not extend beyond 3 metres from the back of the original terraced house, or 4 metres for a semi-detached house, and it asks the council to protect privacy, daylight and outlook for neighbours.
Not as a published figure. Outside South Tottenham, Haringey's advice lists tests instead: subordinate, no loss of sunlight, no overlooking, a reasonable garden left, and no harm to trees. Permitted development can still allow 3 metres, or more by notification.
Possibly. Haringey's page says outside a conservation area or listed building you may build 3 to 6 metres on a semi or terrace and 4 to 8 metres on a detached house, but you must complete the larger home extension notification form first.
The council's conservation area list links directions for Noel Park, Peabody Cottages, Rookfield Estate and Tower Gardens. Planning permission is required for the works those directions list, so read the one for your street before designing.
£765 inc survey (£565 if you supply measured drawings). That covers the measured survey, the drawings and the submission, with free revisions until the council decides. Haringey's own application fee is separate and goes to the council.
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