Approvals, PD and planning permission service
Providing expert guidance on building permission for home extensions and renovations across Essex
What is local council approval and why does it matter?
Every project requires approval, regardless of size. Once the final architectural design is approved by the customer, we promptly submit the necessary application to the local council. For projects potentially falling under Permitted Development (PD)—subject to council discretion—we secure a certificate of lawfulness.
Homeowners sometimes seek our help after work is complete, only to find that exposing steelwork, roof structure, and foundations is necessary. This can lead to costly remedial work if the build doesn’t meet regulations. By obtaining approvals upfront, our Essex architectural design team ensure that structural calculations and building quotes are accurate and compliant, making home extensions safe and efficient in Essex.
Expert planning permission service for home extensions
A professional planning permission service ensures your home extension meets all regulations and gets approved without delays. Experts handle applications, prepare accurate drawings, and liaise with the council to prevent costly mistakes. Whether you’re planning a single story extension, loft conversion, or double story extension, the right guidance helps streamline the process and improves approval success.
The importance of good design in planning permission
A well-designed planning permission service application increases approval chances and prevents costly revisions. Clear, accurate plans help councils assess compliance with regulations, reducing delays. Good design ensures your home extension meets both aesthetic and legal requirements, creating a smoother approval process.
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Why choose our services for approvals or planning permission.
Even if your home extension falls under permitted development, it still requires approval to confirm compliance. A Certificate of Lawfulness provides official confirmation that your project meets regulations, preventing issues when selling your home. Without it, you may face legal complications or costly delays. Our planning permission serviceensures you get the right approvals, whether through a full application or permitted development confirmation, giving you peace of mind and protecting your investment.
Years of Planning Experience
With decades in the industry, we’ve seen it all. If planning mistakes were trophies, we’d need a bigger shelf. Luckily for you, we’ve already learned the hard lessons, so your planning permission service is handled the right way from the start. We take pride in setting the standard, offering honest and transparent guidance to get your project approved.
Tailored Advice for Every Home
No two homes are the same, and neither are their approval needs. The first step is understanding your plans and seeing what’s possible. Whether it’s permitted development or full planning permission, we advise on the best approach to get your home extension approved while making the process as smooth as possible.
Support Beyond Approval
Getting planning permission is just one step. Once you’ve got the green light, we don’t just disappear. We can connect you with reliable builders and guide you through the next stages. If you’ve got questions, we’re always at the end of the phone—no endless email chains, just straightforward support when you need it.
Our Planning Permission Process
In our eyes, there’s only one way to do the job—the right way. We treat every project as if it were our own. If there’s a way to save you money and hassle, we’ll let you know and guide you towards the best approach for your needs. A planning permission service shouldn’t be stressful—it can be a straightforward and even exciting process with the right support.
Initial Consultation and Site Visit
If you’ve already received a quote from us, you’ll know how competitive we are. To keep costs down, we provide 90% of the answers upfront before visiting your property. Using Google Earth, we assess your home and review neighbouring extensions to understand your planning permission service options. This gives us a strong insight into what’s likely to be approved.
Concept Development and Drafting
Once you give us the go-ahead, we start the survey. We measure everything down to the smallest detail so we can first draft the existing layout. From there, we develop designs for the proposed work. We keep refining until you’re completely happy—most of the time, we get it right in the first or second draft.
Planning Permission and Regulations
With regulations constantly changing in Essex, it’s worth working with a company that stays ahead of the curve. We make sure every project complies and always gain some form of approval from the council for peace of mind. Although not always required, we can offer building regulation drawings. If you don’t want to leave it to your builder to decide how your home extension is constructed, we can handle it for you. A planning permission service shouldn’t stop there—we also provide structural calculations where needed.
Honest Reviews from Our Customers
We ask every customer to leave us an honest review. Not everyone gets around to it, but for those who do, we appreciate it. It’s not just about 5-star ratings—it’s about helping future customers navigate this sometimes tricky industry. If you have a moment, we’d love to hear your feedback.
frequently asked question
Please complete an enquiry form and submit your details. We will call you within 1 working day. If we can get through we will email you instead.
We are based in Wickford but we cover the whole of Essex and some part of London.
Prices start at £1,195.00 and go up to £2,995.00
Permitted development for house extensions allows homeowners to build specific types of extensions without needing planning permission, provided they meet government-defined size and location criteria. As part of our architectural design service in Essex, we ensure your extension complies with these regulations. Additionally, we assist in obtaining a certificate of lawfulness, giving you legal confirmation that your project falls within permitted development rights
Get in contact with usb either calling, emailing, requesting a callback or completing an enquiry form. We are very quick at responding to enquiries.
Use ours is the short answer. We don’t have many as they are hard to come by, but the ones we do, won’t let you down.
Always contact an architect first if you want sound advice on what steps to take. They can help you design properly and navigate permissions. As part of our service, Kirkwood advises clients on realistic build costs in Essex to help them plan ahead.
A certificate of lawfulness (COL) for a house extension is an official document that verifies the legality of a proposed or existing extension. It is also referred to as a lawful development certificate (LDC).
