Planning constraints may be applied through legislation, planning policy, or be attached to a decision in the form of a condition.
If you are considering carrying out works or buying a property, it is sensible to check whether there are any planning constraints that affect the property. You can do this in a few different ways, some of which are described on this page.
Carry out a land charges search
Visit the planning application database
View the Local Plan policies map
There is a charge to carry out a land charges search, with the amount dependent on the type of search you decide to make.
There is no fee for searching the planning application database, the Local Plan policies map, or the other online information sources mentioned below.
Carry out a land charges search (fee required)
If you are buying a property, a land charges search is recommended. The search will show planning constraints, planning history, and other charges that affect a property or properties. You will have to pay a fee for a land charges search but it can provide a comprehensive range of results, and not just planning constraints.
Use the planning application database
The planning application database includes planning policy and listed building constraint information on all registered properties in Lambeth. To find this information, go to the planning application database, then click on the ‘property’ tab and search for your property. The search allows the use of * symbols as wildcards if you are unsure of the exact address or name of a property. Once you have located your property, click on the ‘Constraints’ tab to see the planning constraints that apply.
Check the Local Plan policies map
Our Local Plan policies map shows the geographical area covered by each of the Local Plan planning constraints. This map does not include listed building designations as those are a constraint created by a national body.
Review the planning history for restrictions on use and future development
Not all constraints that affect a property are directly associated with current policies, like those in the planning application database and the Local Plan and Policies Map. Some planning permissions include conditions that place a constraint on the use or future development of a property.
To find out if such a constraint applies to your property, you will need to review any implemented planning permissions that relate to it. You can do this by searching for planning applications that relate to your property and then, for each one that you find, review the documents to see if the decision notice includes any constraints in the conditions. Use the planning application database and register of historic planning notices to find planning decisions on your property. The planning applications database contains records going back to 1986. For decisions older than this, you will need to review the register of historic planning notices.
Check to see if a building is listed
As well as using the planning application database to check the listed status of a property, you can also find listed building designations on Historic England’s National Heritage List for England. Lambeth also maintains a Local List of buildings and structures which are deemed to be of local architectural or historic interest.