Hackney Planning Consultant
Terraces, tech and conservation
Hackney packs 34 conservation areas, part of the Central Activities Zone and some of London's most sought-after Victorian terraces into a small inner borough. That density of controls means even modest changes can need careful handling. Cedar Planning prepares applications and advice that speak directly to Hackney's own policies.
The practice is led by Dan Malloy MRTPI, a Chartered Town Planner. We are based in Norfolk and work across England, including inner London, and we arrange visits to Hackney sites whenever the work calls for it.
- RTPI Chartered
- Fixed-fee quotations
- Direct advice from a Chartered Planner
Working with LP33 and Hackney's area action plans
Hackney's main plan is the Local Plan 2033, known as LP33, adopted at Full Council on 22 July 2020. It replaced the earlier Core Strategy and saved UDP policies, and it numbers its policies simply, from LP1 on design quality and local character through to LP58 on pollution. Site allocations are included within the plan itself.
A council review in October 2024 found LP33 broadly consistent with national policy but in need of targeted updates. Work on a replacement is under way, with the council expecting to start using a new Local Plan in 2029. Until then, LP33 remains the starting point for every decision.
Two area action plans add detail. The Stamford Hill Area Action Plan was examined in September 2025, consulted on main modifications to February 2026, and the Inspector's final report reached the council on 27 July 2026. The Future Shoreditch Area Action Plan completed its Regulation 19 consultation in April 2026 and was due for submission in summer 2026, with hearings expected in the autumn.
Hackney Wick and the edge of the Olympic Park were once planned by the London Legacy Development Corporation. Those planning powers have returned to the borough, and the LLDC's policy documents continue to apply to the former LLDC area until they are replaced.
Office and shop conversions are restricted
Article 4 Directions remove Class MA rights to turn Class E premises into homes across the Central Activities Zone, the City Fringe and town centres (in force from 27 April 2023) and in designated industrial areas (from 5 October 2023). Similar controls cover district and local shopping centres, so most commercial to residential schemes need full permission.
Hackney-specific planning issues
Brownswood, Beck Road and Well Street have had Article 4 Directions since May 2025, and Shacklewell Green since 2019, bringing windows, doors, roofs and solar panels under control.
LP24 resists the loss of housing, including through amalgamation or change of use, so even combining two flats back into a house needs justification.
The City Fringe sits within a London Plan Opportunity Area and the CAZ, where office and employment floorspace is protected and residential conversion is tightly controlled.
Hackney's published Article 4 list does not include a C3 to C4 direction, but larger HMOs still need permission and are assessed against LP33 housing and amenity policies.
Planning support across Hackney
We work on fixed-fee quotations. These are the services most often requested for Hackney sites.
Heritage Statements
Assessments for listed buildings and all 34 conservation areas, from De Beauvoir and Albion Square to Clapton Common, prepared against LP33 heritage policy and the relevant appraisal.
View serviceHouseholder Applications
Rear and roof extensions to Victorian terraces in Stoke Newington, Dalston and Clapton, tested against LP1 on character and LP2 on neighbour amenity.
View serviceClass MA and Change of Use
Advice on whether Class MA prior approval is still available at your address, and full applications where an Article 4 Direction applies instead.
View servicePlanning Applications
Infill homes, mansard additions and small residential schemes, set against LP17 on housing design, LP14 on dwelling mix and LP45 on car-free development.
View serviceHMO Planning Permission
Applications for large sui generis HMOs and advice on smaller HMOs, covering room sizes, amenity and the effect on the housing stock.
View serviceLawful Development Certificates
Certificates for existing flats, uses and outbuildings, and for proposed works that fall within permitted development outside restricted areas.
View serviceLP33 policies, London Plan tests and CIL
Most Hackney decisions draw on a familiar group of LP33 policies. LP1 covers design quality and local character, LP2 development and amenity, LP13 affordable housing, LP14 dwelling size mix and LP17 housing design. Environmental policies include LP51 on trees and landscaping and LP54 and LP55 on overheating and climate change.
The London Plan 2021 adds SD4 and SD5 on the Central Activities Zone, D3 on design-led site capacity, D9 on tall buildings, HC1 on heritage conservation and T6 on car parking. Hackney's position as a largely car-free borough means parking is rarely a route to approval.
Hackney has charged its own Community Infrastructure Levy since 1 April 2015, with charging zones across the borough, in addition to the Mayoral CIL. Section 106 obligations follow the council's Planning Contributions SPD.
Key policy areas we navigate
Design must respond to the street's pattern, scale and materials. Roof extensions on uniform terraces are a frequent test.
Daylight, sunlight, privacy and outlook for neighbours, often decisive for rear extensions in tight Victorian plots.
Space, layout, outlook and private amenity for new homes, applied to conversions as well as new builds.
New homes are expected to be car-free, with cycle parking and servicing designed in from the start.
A Consultancy That Works With You, For You
In Hackney the constraint is rarely a single big designation. It is the layering of conservation area rules, Article 4 Directions, employment protection and amenity tests on small, closely packed plots. Early advice identifies which of these applies before drawings are finalised.
Professional input is especially useful in Shoreditch and Stamford Hill, where new area action plans are close to taking effect and will change the policy basis for many sites.
RTPI Chartered
Led by a Chartered member of the Royal Town Planning Institute with more than ten years of public and private-sector planning experience.
Honest Prospects
A realistic view of the planning risks and options before you commit time or money.
Fixed, Transparent Fees
Fixed-fee quotations agreed before work starts, so you know the cost from the outset.
Direct Access
You deal with the Chartered Planner doing the work, not an account manager.
Planning Consultants Across London
We cover every council area in London. See our main London planning consultants page.
Hackney Planning FAQs
How do I know if my Hackney home is in a conservation area?
The council publishes a conservation areas map covering all 34 areas, each with an appraisal. If your street is included, check also whether an Article 4 Direction applies, as in Brownswood, Beck Road, Well Street or Shacklewell Green, because more works then need permission.
Can I convert a Shoreditch office to flats without full planning permission?
Usually not. An Article 4 Direction in force since April 2023 removes Class MA rights across the CAZ, City Fringe and town centres. A full application is needed, and LP33 and London Plan policies protecting office space in the CAZ will apply.
Is Hackney replacing LP33?
Yes, in time. A 2024 review found LP33 broadly up to date, and the council expects to start using a new Local Plan in 2029. Until then LP33, the London Plan and the area action plans guide decisions.
Where is the Stamford Hill Area Action Plan up to?
The Inspector's final report was delivered to the council on 27 July 2026, after hearings in September 2025 and a main modifications consultation. Adoption by the council is the remaining step, after which it will carry full weight.
Will Hackney allow a loft or mansard extension on my terrace?
It depends on the roofscape of your street and whether it is in a conservation area. Consistent rooflines are protected, while streets with existing mansards offer more scope. See our loft conversion guide.
Can you visit my Hackney site?
Yes. We work across England, including London, and arrange site visits whenever a project needs one. Many Hackney cases begin with a desktop review of the policy position and a call to agree scope.
Get a Free Quote
Tell us what you are trying to achieve and where the property or site is. We will give you an initial view and a fixed-fee quote.
Or email us at info@cedarplanning.co.uk with the relevant information.
Planning work in Shoreditch, Dalston or Stoke Newington? Book a free 15-minute call, or read about our heritage statements and Class MA work in London.