Planning Applications

Planning is often seen as complex and confusing - the following information will help guide you through the process, whether you are an applicant or an interested third party. 


How to get advice and make an application

If you are in the initial stages of planning a development, the following advice includes how to submit an application, guidance on proposals that do not need planning permission, and how to gauge the Council’s opinion on a prospective development.


During your application

These pages outline what to expect once an application is submitted. We have also provided links to other possible approvals you may require in addition to your planning consent.


After your application has been decided

  • once you have received your decision there may be some further steps you need to go through before you can begin your development - see after your application has been decided
  • if your application has been refused and you are unsure what options are available to you, please consult the Refusals and Appeals page for further advice
  • if you think someone is proceeding with a development (or has already carried out a development) without the correct planning consent in place, please see our Planning Enforcement pages for further advice

Planning searches and objections

Most applications that are submitted to the Royal Borough are scanned and the documents displayed on our website. The planning search form will allow you to view any current and determined application or appeal, with full planning history and scanned documents from applications from 2000 onwards.

The Council welcomes comments on applications, either by hard copy, email, or using our online comments form. We are not able to accept comments or objections by fax.  

Hard copies of planning applications are available for inspection at the Planning Information Desk - please telephone in advance to request the file be made available.

To ensure that interested parties are not disadvantaged and have adequate opportunity to comment, the consultation period for new applications will be extended by five working days.

If you wish to be kept informed of applications in your area, or in an area that is of interest to you, please subscribe to the Council's email alert facility: MyRBKC


Community Infrastructure Levy

For more information regarding Community Infrastructure Levy see our dedicated CIL page.


Planning area teams

Planning and Borough Development’s Development Management service is organised into three area teams, North, Central and South and a Strategic Sites team.


Advice for builders and residents

Development in a densely packed borough like Kensington and Chelsea has the potential to cause disturbance to neighbouring occupiers, whether or not it requires planning permission. The Council’s Environmental Health team has, therefore,  brought together best practice methods for developers and builders to minimise disturbance and nuisance. 

It covers a wide range of advice areas, with links to key pieces of legislation. For residents, this also provides a single point of reference on the Council’s powers to control building work and protect against the worst excesses.