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Barnet Planning Applications: A 2026 Guide for North London

Bhavesh Ramburn

Barnet planning applications: which authority handles yours?

If you are searching for a planning application in Hendon, Finchley, Edgware, Barnet, High Barnet, Mill Hill, Burnt Oak, Colindale, Edgware, or Whetstone, the responsible Local Planning Authority (LPA) is the London Borough of Barnet. The planning service sits within Barnet Council and can be accessed via the Planning service page.

Barnet is the largest London borough by population (~400,000 residents) and the second-largest by area. It has more than 40 designated Conservation Areas — the highest of any London borough — and a very heavy use of Article 4 Directions to manage development pressure.

A quick note on boundaries: if your address is near the border with Enfield, Haringey, Camden, Brent, or Hertsmere, double-check the LPA by entering the postcode at the Barnet planning application search. Tottenham Hale is in Haringey, not Barnet, despite appearing on some out-of-date authority lists.

How the English and London planning systems apply in Barnet

Barnet is in England, so the primary statute is the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, supplemented by the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 (the GPDO) which grants Permitted Development rights for certain categories of building work.

Barnet is also in Greater London, which adds a tier of strategic planning:

  • The London Plan, published by the Mayor of London and accessible at london.gov.uk, is part of Barnet’s development plan. Barnet’s own Local Plan must be in general conformity with the London Plan.
  • Mayoral planning applications (those above the relevant threshold in the Town and Country Planning (Mayor of London) Order 2008) are referred to the Greater London Authority for stage-one or stage-two review.
  • The Mayor can call in applications of potential strategic importance.

For the broader PD framework that governs what you can build in Barnet without applying, see our guide on Permitted Development Rights in 2026.

How to view or comment on a current Barnet planning application

Public access to the live application register is a statutory right under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. Barnet operates a single search portal for all live and decided cases:

Members of the public have at least 21 days from the date an application is advertised (site notice and/or neighbour letter) to submit written comments. Comments must relate to material planning considerations — impact on amenity, design, traffic, ecology, residential amenity, heritage, or compliance with the local and London Plan. Comments that are vexatious or relate solely to private disputes (boundary walls, party walls, loss of a view) cannot be taken into account.

To comment on a current application, use the comment-on-a-planning-application page.

Article 4 Directions in Barnet: why they bite harder here

Article 4 Directions withdraw Permitted Development rights for specified categories of development in defined areas. Barnet uses Article 4 Directions more heavily than most English boroughs because of the volume of PD-sensitive work — particularly:

  • HMO conversions — conversion of a family home (Class C3) to a small HMO (Class C4) is normally PD, but Barnet has an Article 4 Direction covering much of the borough. Most HMO conversions therefore need planning permission.
  • Basement developments — single-storey basement extensions are normally PD under Class A of the GPDO, but Barnet has introduced restrictions on larger basement schemes.
  • Shopfront and commercial frontages — changes to shopfronts in designated shopping parades require planning permission across much of Barnet.
  • Roof extensions and dormer windows — restricted in some residential areas.

You can confirm whether an Article 4 Direction covers your property by searching the Barnet Article 4 Directions page. This is the most important step before any extension or conversion work in Barnet.

Conservation areas and tree preservation orders

Barnet has more Conservation Areas than any other London borough, including Hampstead Garden Suburb, Highgate (parts), Finchley Garden Suburb, Whetstone, and a long list of historic village centres. In a Conservation Area:

  • PD rights for external alterations, cladding, and demolition are restricted.
  • Six weeks’ notice is required before any work to a tree.
  • The application fee is the same as elsewhere; the determination period may be extended for heritage considerations.

The Barnet Conservation Areas page lists the current designations.

Barnet also uses Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) extensively. Any tree subject to a TPO requires consent before pruning or removal, and many street trees are protected regardless. The Tree Preservation Orders page is the entry point.

Application fees and statutory timelines

Application fees in England are set centrally by the Town and Country Planning (Fees) (England) Regulations 2012 (as amended). Indicative fees for the most common Barnet application types in 2026:

  • Householder application (extensions and alterations to an existing dwelling): £258.
  • Full planning permission for a new dwelling: £541 plus £162 for each additional dwelling.
  • Change of use: varies by class, typically £541 or higher.
  • Prior notification / prior approval (where applicable under the GPDO 2015): £120.
  • Listed Building Consent (where the property is statutorily listed): £293.

The statutory determination period is 8 weeks for householder and most local applications under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, and 13 weeks for major developments (defined under the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2015). Barnet generally meets these targets but can extend via a further-information request that pauses the clock.

When you need full planning permission in Barnet

You will need a full application if you are:

  • Building a new dwelling or commercial building.
  • Converting a single dwelling (C3) to a small HMO (C4) — most of Barnet is covered by an Article 4 Direction.
  • Altering or extending a listed building — Listed Building Consent is a separate application that runs in parallel.
  • Working in a Conservation Area on external alterations beyond GPDO limits.
  • Working on a protected tree (TPO or Conservation Area tree).
  • Working in a flood risk zone — parts of the Brent Reservoir catchment and the Silkstream and Edgware Brook corridors require a Flood Risk Assessment.
  • Working within the colindale or Brent Cross growth areas, where the Barnet Local Plan and the Mayor’s Opportunity Area frameworks apply.

For an England householder context (extensions, alterations, outbuildings) — which is the most common Barnet application type — see our guide on householder planning permission for a garden office.

How to apply

For most Barnet applicants the route is:

  1. Pre-application advice. Barnet charges a modest fee for a written pre-app response. This catches the bulk of design and policy issues before you commission drawings. Use the pre-application advice page to start.
  2. Submit via the Planning Portal. The Planning Portal hosts the standard 1APP forms and the fee calculator. Use the make-a-planning-application guide for Barnet-specific submission requirements.
  3. Track via the Barnet portal. Once validated, your application appears on the register of applications and can be tracked through to decision.

For an England-wide context that contrasts with the devolved Scottish system (where unitary councils operate under the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997), see our Aberdeen planning applications guide. For a recent English reorganisation case where a former district council was abolished, see our Allerdale planning guide.

Next steps and resources

Editorial note. This article is for guidance only and does not constitute regulated advice. Barnet uses Article 4 Directions extensively — confirm any PD assumption with the council before starting work. For project-specific questions, consult a chartered planning professional registered with the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI).