MCIAT chartered drawings · Fixed fees across all 33 London boroughs

Free 2026 London Planning ReportHMO Conversion Drawings in West Drayton UB7

Rear garden extension behind an interwar West Drayton UB7 semi in Hillingdon
West Drayton · UB7 · Hillingdon

HMO Conversion Drawings in West Drayton UB7

Fixed-fee, MCIAT-chartered hmo conversion drawings for West Drayton (UB7) homeowners — London Borough of Hillingdon validation and local constraints handled from the start.

Free West Drayton planning assessment

Tell us your West Drayton (UB7) address and project. A fixed quote and free planning appraisal land within one working day.

No obligation · No spam · Reply within 1 working day

West Drayton (UB7) is built around a large open village green fringed by fine Georgian and early-Victorian houses, several of them listed, with a much bigger belt of interwar and postwar suburban housing beyond. Most of the rear and loft extension work we prepare here is on that outer suburban stock, where Hillingdon's standard householder expectations apply.

The West Drayton Green conservation area protects the green and its surrounding listed houses, so on properties facing or near it, frontage changes, materials and rooflines face tighter control. We confirm where a UB7 property sits relative to the conservation-area boundary before recommending a permitted-development or full-application route.

Rear garden extension behind an interwar West Drayton UB7 semi in Hillingdon
Isometric illustration of a West Drayton UB7 home hmo conversion drawings design
Proposed floor plan
West Drayton UB7

Planning in West Drayton (UB7): what to know before you apply

UB7's split between a listed-building-rich conservation core around The Green and a broad suburban hinterland means the right route depends heavily on location. Away from the green, Hillingdon's residential extension guidance governs; on or beside The Green, listed-building sensitivity and heritage-led design usually point to a full application.

Typical West Drayton housing stock

A historic core around The Green — fine Georgian and early-19th-century houses such as The Old House and Beechwood, with a listed former workhouse cottage row — set within a much larger area of interwar and postwar semis and terraces stretching towards Yiewsley and the railway.

Streets we regularly draw for in West Drayton

The Green · Church Road · Swan Road · Station Road

HMO Conversion Drawings for West Drayton (UB7) homes: the package and the process

Every hmo conversion drawings we prepare for an West Drayton property is drawn to London Borough of Hillingdon’s validation standards and tuned to the UB7 constraints above. Here is what the drawing package covers and how the process runs from first survey to approval.

A House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) is a property let to three or more unrelated occupants sharing kitchen, bathroom or living facilities. A small HMO — three to six sharers — normally falls into Use Class C4, while a large HMO of seven or more occupants is sui generis, sitting entirely outside the Use Classes Order. Both routes trigger licensing requirements, and in many London boroughs an Article 4 direction removes the usual permitted development right to convert a family home (C3) into a small HMO (C4), meaning full planning permission is needed even for a straightforward conversion.

DrawingsDirect draws HMO conversions to the standard your borough's planning and licensing teams both expect — minimum room sizes, amenity provision, fire safety and means of escape — so one set of drawings supports both the planning application, where needed, and the licensing submission. We check whether an Article 4 direction applies to your property before you commit to a route, and coordinate fire safety and structural detail in-house.

C4 small HMO or sui generis large HMO — which applies to your property?

The distinction matters because it decides which rules apply. A small HMO housing three to six unrelated sharers who share amenities is Class C4. A large HMO of seven or more occupants is sui generis and always needs planning permission, since sui generis uses sit outside the permitted development system entirely. The line also shifts with occupancy — a property let to six sharers today can tip into sui generis territory the moment a seventh tenancy is signed, which changes the planning position even though nothing about the building itself has changed. We assess your proposed occupancy and layout against both definitions before drawing, so the application matches how the property will actually be let.

Do I need planning permission for an HMO conversion in London?

Converting a family home (C3) into a small HMO (C4) is technically permitted development under national rules, but a large number of London boroughs have made an Article 4 direction that removes this right across all or part of the borough — meaning a full planning application is required even for a small, compliant HMO. Article 4 directions vary street by street in some boroughs, so two similar houses a few doors apart can sit on opposite sides of the line. Any large HMO (sui generis) needs planning permission everywhere, regardless of Article 4. We check your specific address against the relevant borough's Article 4 direction before recommending a route, since guessing wrong wastes both time and application fees.

HMO routes and standards in London
FactorC4 small HMO (3–6 sharers)Sui generis large HMO (7+)
Use classC4Sui generis
Planning permissionOften needed due to Article 4 directions in most boroughsAlways needed
LicensingMandatory if 5+ occupants; additional licensing in many boroughsMandatory
Typical drawing packageFrom £1,400Full planning + building regs, from £2,200
FAQ

HMO Conversion Drawings in West Drayton UB7 — FAQs

How much do HMO conversion drawings cost in London?+
HMO conversion packages typically start from £1,400, rising where full planning permission, structural work or a larger occupancy is involved. We agree a fixed fee upfront, before drawing begins.
Is HMO conversion permitted development in London?+
Only sometimes. Converting a home into a small HMO (C4) can be permitted development nationally, but many London boroughs have removed that right with an Article 4 direction, and any large HMO (seven or more occupants) always needs planning permission. We check your address before recommending a route.
Do I need a licence as well as planning permission?+
Usually yes. Licensing and planning permission are separate processes assessed by different council teams — most HMOs need a mandatory or additional licence regardless of whether planning permission was also required for the conversion.
Do I need an architect for an HMO conversion?+
No. As an MCIAT-chartered architectural technologist practice, we prepare the same council-accepted drawings an architect would, coordinated with structural and fire safety detail, typically at a lower fee.
How long do HMO conversion drawings take?+
Drawings are typically ready around 7 days from survey. Where full planning permission is needed, the council then has a statutory eight-week period to determine the application.
Do I need planning permission for a loft conversion in Hillingdon?+
Hillingdon's Metro-land semis and detached houses in Ruislip, Eastcote and Ickenham suit hip-to-gable and dormer lofts, which frequently qualify as permitted development within the volume limits. The exceptions are the conservation areas — Ruislip Village, Uxbridge and Northwood — and green-belt land toward the Colne Valley. We check your address and can confirm permitted development with a Lawful Development Certificate.
How does the Colne Valley green belt affect my Hillingdon project?+
On green-belt properties toward the western edge of the borough, extensions are assessed against strict limits on disproportionate additions to the original dwelling. It does not rule out an extension, but scale and siting matter and the case must be evidenced carefully. We confirm whether your property is green belt and design a scheme that stays within policy.
Does proximity to Heathrow affect my plans?+
It can toward the south of the borough, where aircraft-noise considerations may influence habitable-room and glazing design. We evidence these considerations within the application where they apply so the council can validate and approve without repeated revisions.
How long does Hillingdon Council take to decide?+
Hillingdon determines most householder applications within the statutory eight-week period once validated; green-belt and conservation cases can involve additional consultation. We prepare Hillingdon submissions to the council's validation checklist to avoid the drawing queries that cause most delays.
How much do planning drawings cost in Hillingdon?+
We work to a fixed fee agreed upfront, usually around 30% below an architect's charge for the same council-accepted drawings, with free redraws until Hillingdon approves. A dormer loft, a suburban extension and a green-belt case differ in the evidence required, so we confirm the fee once we understand your project rather than billing by the hour.
Free Fixed Quote

Get your free West Drayton planning assessment

Tell us your West Drayton (UB7) address and ambition — we'll confirm feasibility, local constraints and a fixed fee within one working day.