Flat Conversion Drawings in Greenwich
Fixed-fee, MCIAT-chartered flat conversion drawings for Greenwich homeowners — Royal Borough of Greenwich validation and local constraints handled from the start.
Greenwich stretches from the Georgian streets of West Greenwich and the Georgian-fringed heath at Blackheath — set against the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site — out to the Edwardian villas of Westcombe Park and the interwar and post-war suburbs of Eltham and Kidbrooke. The northern, historic core carries strong conservation and protected-view control, while the outer suburbs and newer riverside development along the Thames offer more generous plots for extensions and lofts. The right route depends heavily on where in the borough you are.
The character shifts street by street. Conservation areas at West Greenwich, Ashburnham Triangle, Blackheath, Westcombe Park, Eltham Park and Woolwich each carry design control over materials, rooflines and front elevations, and the sloping sites around Blackheath and the Greenwich hills shape what an extension can be. Protected views toward the Royal Observatory and across the river, together with Article 4 directions on HMO conversions in parts of the borough, mean the constraints on a heritage-led scheme in the historic core differ sharply from a straightforward suburban addition toward Eltham or Charlton.
We prepare Greenwich planning drawings tuned to the specific area — heritage-led applications around West Greenwich and Blackheath, and simpler extension and loft schemes toward Eltham and Kidbrooke — confirming the World Heritage Site setting and conservation designations for your address first. It is the same council-accepted drawing set an architect would prepare, usually at around 30% less, with a fixed fee agreed up front, a roughly seven-day drawing turnaround and free redraws until the Royal Borough of Greenwich approves. Most householder applications are decided within the statutory eight-week period once validated, so we draw to the council's validation checklist from the start.
Planning in Greenwich: what to know before you apply
A distinctive Greenwich consideration is the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site and its buffer zone, where the council protects townscape and long views toward the Royal Observatory — proposals nearby are assessed against that setting. Conservation-area control in West Greenwich, Blackheath and Westcombe Park, and Article 4 directions on HMO conversions in parts of the borough, also apply. We confirm what affects your address before drawing.
Typical Greenwich housing stock
Georgian and early-Victorian terraces around West Greenwich and Blackheath, Edwardian villas in Westcombe Park, interwar and post-war housing toward Eltham and Kidbrooke, and newer riverside development along the Thames.
Areas we regularly draw for in Greenwich
Greenwich · Blackheath · Westcombe Park · Charlton · Woolwich · Eltham · Kidbrooke
Flat Conversion Drawings for Greenwich homes: the package and the process
Every flat conversion drawings we prepare for a Greenwich property is drawn to Royal Borough of Greenwich’s validation standards and tuned to the local constraints above. Here is what the drawing package covers and how the process runs from first survey to approval.
Converting a house into flats is one of the few residential projects in London that always needs planning permission, whatever the size of the property or the number of units created. Splitting a single dwelling into two or more self-contained homes is treated as development regardless of whether any external work is proposed, because the change affects how the building is used and how many households occupy it.
DrawingsDirect draws house-to-flats conversions from the first survey through to a submission-ready planning and building-regulations package. Sound insulation between units, separate escape routes, individual services and London's minimum space standards are designed in from the layout stage, not retrofitted once the council asks for them — which is a large part of why our schemes are approved first time.
Do I need planning permission to convert a house into flats?
Yes, always. Converting a single dwelling into two or more self-contained flats is a change from one home to several, and that subdivision is treated as development requiring a full planning application — there is no permitted development route that allows it, regardless of the property's size or whether the exterior changes at all. The application has to demonstrate that each flat meets space, layout, amenity and parking standards in its own right, not just that the building as a whole is being used sensibly.
Boroughs also weigh the loss of a family-sized house against their local housing policy, since converting a larger house into several flats reduces the stock of homes suited to families even as it adds smaller units. We take that policy context into account when advising on layout and unit numbers, rather than simply maximising the number of flats the floor area could technically support.
What sound insulation is required between flats?
Part E of the building regulations sets minimum sound insulation standards for the walls and floors separating flats, covering both airborne and impact sound. Where an existing house is subdivided, the drawings specify how the party floors and walls between units will be upgraded — additional layers, resilient bars, or a floating floor — and pre-completion sound testing is normally required before the flats can be signed off. Getting this detail right on the drawings from the outset matters, because retrofitting sound insulation after a failed test usually means taking up a finished floor or ceiling that has already been decorated.
| Conversion | Typical scope | Route | Fee from |
|---|---|---|---|
| House to two self-contained flats | Vertical split, separate or shared entrance | Full planning plus building regulations | £1,600 |
| House to three or more flats | Multiple units, fire strategy required | Full planning plus building regs plus structural | £2,400 |
| Flat conversion with a side or rear extension | Additional floor area added to create compliant units | Full planning plus structural calculations | £2,800 |
Flat Conversion Drawings across Greenwich
Flat Conversion Drawings in Greenwich — FAQs
Do I need planning permission to convert a house into flats?+
How much do flat conversion drawings cost in London?+
What sound insulation is required between flats?+
Does each flat need a separate fire escape?+
What is the minimum size for a flat in London?+
Do I need planning permission for an extension in Greenwich?+
How does the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site affect my project?+
Can I extend a home in Blackheath or Westcombe Park?+
How long does the Royal Borough of Greenwich take to decide?+
How much do planning drawings cost in Greenwich?+
Get your free Greenwich planning assessment
Tell us your Greenwich address and ambition — we'll confirm feasibility, local constraints and a fixed fee within one working day.