Planning permission in Havering
Constraints: planning.data.gov.uk (ingested 2026-06-15) · Prices: HM Land Registry UK House Price Index, October 2025 · 259 sales in October 2025 · Open Government Licence
Planning in Havering — the detail
Havering is an outer-north-east-London borough where suburbia meets the countryside — from Romford and Hornchurch out to the Green Belt villages of Havering-atte-Bower, Cranham, North Ockendon and the Thames-side at Rainham. Its 11 conservation areas include the celebrated Gidea Park (a model garden suburb and 1911 exhibition estate), Havering-atte-Bower, Langtons in Hornchurch, Corbets Tey and the historic Romford and Rainham cores.
Havering controls HMO conversions through two Article 4 directions, in force since 13 July 2016, that between them cover the whole borough: one for the wards of Brooklands, Romford Town, Heaton and Gooshays, and a second for the rest of the borough. Together they remove the permitted development right to convert a house (use class C3) to a small HMO (C4), so an HMO conversion anywhere in Havering needs planning permission.
Outside the conservation areas and the extensive Green Belt, much of Havering's suburban semi-detached stock keeps permitted development rights for rear extensions, side extensions and loft conversions, on generous plots. The address-level check separates a permitted-development project from a full application in a conservation area, and confirms whether Green Belt or the HMO directions apply.
Policy detail lives in the Havering local plan and applications are submitted via the Havering planning portal.
Conservation areas in Havering
Real · planning.data.gov.ukEvery designated conservation area in Havering from the official dataset — inside one, permitted development narrows and design scrutiny rises.
- Corbets Tey
- Cranham
- Gidea Park
- Havering-atte-Bower
- Langtons, Hornchurch
- North Ockendon
- RAF Hornchurch
- Rainham
- Romford
- St Andrew's Church, Hornchurch
- St Leonard's, Hornchurch
Source: planning.data.gov.uk · Open Government Licence. Boundaries are checked at address level by the area report.
Article 4 directions in Havering
Real · planning.data.gov.ukNo Article 4 geometry for Havering appears in the national planning.data.gov.uk dataset, but the borough controls HMO conversions through two Article 4 directions in force since 13 July 2016 that together cover the whole borough (one for Brooklands, Romford Town, Heaton and Gooshays; a second for the rest), removing the right to convert a house to a small HMO. Much of the borough is Green Belt. Check the council's Article 4 pages for the position at a specific address.
Source: planning.data.gov.uk · Open Government Licence. Checked at address level by the area report.
What gets built in Havering
Hornchurch, Upminster and Romford semis extend under PD; Gidea Park, the village conservation areas and Green Belt need a full application.
Costs & planning route →Workable on the Romford and Hornchurch terraces; Gidea Park and the conservation areas need a full application.
Costs & planning route →Routine on the Hornchurch and Upminster semis under PD; Gidea Park and the conservation areas scrutinise dormers.
Costs & planning route →Uncommon on the borough's suburban plots; a full application with structural and ground-condition evidence is expected, with Green Belt limits on the rural edge.
Costs & planning route →Large suburban and Green Belt-edge gardens suit garden rooms under PD; Gidea Park, the conservation areas and Green Belt are where outbuilding rights tighten.
Costs & planning route →Havering postcode by postcode
RM1 is Romford — the historic market-town core and conservation area at the borough's centre. Much of the surrounding stock keeps …
Area report →RM2 is Gidea Park — a celebrated model garden suburb and 1911 exhibition estate, protected as a conservation area with close desig…
Area report →RM11 covers Hornchurch and the leafy Emerson Park — the Langtons and St Andrew's Church conservation areas among them. Generous su…
Area report →RM14 is Upminster and Cranham on the rural edge — the Cranham conservation area and North Ockendon, with Green Belt beyond. Much o…
Area report →RM13 covers Rainham and South Hornchurch — the Rainham conservation area around Rainham Hall, near the Thames-side marshes. Much o…
Area report →Havering planning, asked straight
Do I need planning permission to create an HMO in Havering?
Is my Havering home in a conservation area?
Is my Havering property in the Green Belt?
Do I need planning permission for a rear extension or loft in Havering?
How do I check constraints for a Havering address?
Related reading
Designated land edits the rulebook — here's the exact redline.
Read the guide →Four roof forms, four budgets — and one big conservation premium.
Read the guide →Real ranges from real projects — not brochure numbers.
Read the guide →What applies at your address?
Borough-level rules only narrow it down. Enter a Havering postcode for the live constraint check — conservation area, Article 4 and sold-price comparables, cited to source.
Planning Permission Checker provides planning and cost intelligence for early feasibility only. It is not legal, planning, valuation, architectural, structural, or surveying advice. All estimates are indicative and must be verified by qualified professionals before purchase, design, planning submission, or construction.
Cost estimates are indicative only — not a quotation. Final price depends on survey, specification, structure, access, party wall matters, VAT, professional fees, and contractor availability.
Planning outcomes are not guaranteed. Local planning authorities make final decisions.