Home  /  Insights  /  Real Estate Development & Planning
Real Estate Development & Planning  

How to Use the Barnet Planning Portal for Your Development Needs

How planning works in the London Borough of Barnet, from house extensions to small developments.

How to Use the Barnet Planning Portal for Your Development Needs Real Estate Development & Planning

Updated October 2026 · Fraser Bond

Barnet

Green Belt, garden suburbs and busy town centres all shape Barnet decisions

Green Beltlarge areas
HGSextra Trust consent
8 wkshouseholder target
LDCfor PD certainty
In short: In Barnet, applications go in through the national Planning Portal and appear on the council's planning register. Watch out for borough-specific constraints: large areas of Green Belt, conservation areas such as Mill Hill, Totteridge and Monken Hadley, and Hampstead Garden Suburb, where the Hampstead Garden Suburb Trust's consent is needed for many changes in addition to planning.
LocationExtra things to check
Hampstead Garden SuburbTrust consent under its scheme of management, plus planning and Article 4 controls
Green Belt (e.g. Totteridge, Arkley)Very restrictive on new buildings and extensions
Conservation areasStricter rules on extensions, windows and trees
Town centres (e.g. Finchley, Edgware, Colindale)Density and design policies for flats and mixed use
Is your Barnet extension worth it?
Build cost–
Total project cost–
Potential value added–
Gain (value added minus cost)–

Rough guide only. Value uplift depends on quality, layout and the local ceiling price. Ask us for a valuation.

From idea to decision

1
Check constraintsGreen Belt, conservation area, Hampstead Garden Suburb or Article 4.
2
Pre-application adviceUseful for anything beyond a simple extension.
3
SubmitPlanning Portal with drawings and fee.
4
ConsultationNeighbours and consultees comment.
5
DecisionTarget of 8 weeks for most householder schemes.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need the Hampstead Garden Suburb Trust's consent?

For many external changes in the Suburb, yes, in addition to planning permission.

Can I extend in the Green Belt?

Extensions must be proportionate to the original building; larger ones are usually refused.

How do I search Barnet planning applications?

Use the council's online planning register by address or reference.

Planning works in Barnet?

Talk to us about value and feasibility first.

Speak to our teamGet a valuation

Related guides

Next step

You are one message away from an answer.

If you have a question

Send it to us and get a straight answer.

Describe the property and the problem. We will tell you what we would do, what it should cost, and if we are not the right people, who is.

  • Replies the same working day
  • The person who answers is the person who handles it
  • No fee, and no obligation to instruct us
If you are looking for a property

See everything we are instructed on.

Sales and lettings across Prime Central London and the wider UK, with the same team behind every listing.

  • Residential and commercial in one search
  • Filter by borough, budget and size
  • Register once and we will send matches first