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Local planning policy field guide

London Borough of Wandsworth planning policy summary

Explore London Borough of Wandsworth’s planning requirements for common proposals, with the local tests, application evidence and official documents gathered in one place.

AI-generated from the linked official sources; not editorially reviewed. How these summaries are prepared.

Browse requirementsOpen source documents
Cut-paper planning illustration for Wandsworth, showing extensions, neighbours, access and open land near simplified local landmarks.
Battersea Park and Putney Vale Cemetery mark Wandsworth.
Local answers
22
Official documents cited
4
Planning sections
12
Sources checked
5 September 2026
What this guide covers

A bounded first release covering the adopted 2023 Local Plan, the adopted 4 March 2026 Local Plan Partial Review and current local planning application requirements for common development-management questions.

Popular checks

Start with a common planning question

Section 1

Consent, policy and location

Local requirement

Current development plan and policy hierarchy

What current plan documents and retained policies does the authority say form the development plan, and how should conflicts or transitions be handled?

Wandsworth's borough-wide adopted plan consists of the 2023 Local Plan as amended by the Local Plan Partial Review adopted on 4 March 2026. The review replaces only Policies LP23, LP24, LP28, LP29, LP30 and LP31; every other 2023 policy remains operative.

When this answer applies
All applications in Wandsworth, alongside the London Plan and any site-specific or neighbourhood policy.

Details and exceptions

  • For the six replaced housing topics, use the 2026 policy text rather than the corresponding 2023 text; the policies map and current London Plan must also be checked.

Sources used

  1. Wandsworth Local Plan 2023 (opens in a new tab)Development plan— Local Plan title and adoption material; adopted 19 July 2023
  2. Wandsworth Local Plan Partial Review (opens in a new tab)Development plan— Introduction and supersession statement, printed p. 2 (PDF p. 4)
Other planning topics11

Keep these national checklist topics in mind alongside the local requirements above.

  • Neighbourhood plan applicability
  • Site allocations and site-specific policy
  • Design codes and masterplans
  • Settlement boundaries
  • Countryside development
  • Green Belt development
  • Local separation and green-wedge designations
  • Planning permission and application route
  • Permitted development and local limitations
  • Prior approval requirements
  • Article 4 directions

Section 2

Neighbour amenity

Local requirement

Daylight, sunlight, overshadowing and overbearing impact

How does the authority assess daylight, sunlight, overshadowing and overbearing impact?

Policy LP2 protects existing and future occupiers from unacceptable loss of daylight or sunlight, overshadowing and overbearing effects. Supporting paragraph 14.11 expects assessment against the most recent Building Research Establishment guidance where relevant.

When this answer applies
Development capable of affecting daylight, sunlight or enclosure for homes and other sensitive uses.

Details and exceptions

  • Building Research Establishment guidance informs a contextual planning judgement and is not an automatic pass or refusal test.

Sources used

  1. Wandsworth Local Plan 2023 (opens in a new tab)Development plan— Policy LP2 and paragraph 14.11, General Development Principles, pp. 288–290

Related local appeal evidence

Neighbour living conditions

33 matched decision families in this local evidence view.

  • 10 allowed
  • 23 dismissed
Compare neighbour living conditions appeal decisions
Policy guidance

Privacy, overlooking and separation

How does the authority assess privacy, overlooking and separation between buildings or amenity areas?

Policy LP2 requires development to protect privacy and avoid unacceptable overlooking or a sense of enclosure for existing and future occupiers.

When this answer applies
Development with windows, balconies, terraces or massing close to homes or private amenity space.

Details and exceptions

  • Paragraph 14.12 calls for a site-specific response; the plan does not state one universal separation distance for every context.

Sources used

  1. Wandsworth Local Plan 2023 (opens in a new tab)Development plan— Policy LP2 and paragraph 14.12, General Development Principles, pp. 288–290
Policy guidance

Noise and vibration

What does the authority say about tests, limits, evidence and mitigation for noise and vibration?

Policy LP14 requires noise- and vibration-generating development and sensitive development to avoid unacceptable effects and use appropriate layout, design, insulation and mitigation.

When this answer applies
Noise-sensitive uses and proposals near or creating noise or vibration sources.

Details and exceptions

  • Assessment scope and acceptable levels depend on the source, receptor, background conditions and current technical guidance.

Sources used

  1. Wandsworth Local Plan 2023 (opens in a new tab)Development plan— Policy LP14, Air Quality, Pollution and Managing Impacts of Development, pp. 330–334
Other planning topics3

Keep these national checklist topics in mind alongside the local requirements above.

  • Outlook and enclosure
  • Odour, fumes and dust
  • Artificial light and glare

Section 3

Design, form and character

Policy guidance

Character, context and placemaking

What does the authority say about responding to local character, townscape, context, public realm, legibility and inclusive or safe design?

Policy LP1 requires high-quality design responding to local context, character, townscape and landscape, with coherent layout, scale, massing, materials, public realm and inclusive access.

When this answer applies
All development, with the design response proportionate to scale and sensitivity.

Details and exceptions

  • Site allocations, conservation-area guidance, the policies map and the London Plan may add location-specific design requirements.

Sources used

  1. Wandsworth Local Plan 2023 (opens in a new tab)Development plan— Policy LP1, The Design-led Approach, pp. 286–288

Related local appeal evidence

Area character and appearance

111 matched decision families in this local evidence view.

  • 40 allowed
  • 71 dismissed
  • 1 other
Compare area character and appearance appeal decisions
Other planning topics8

Keep these national checklist topics in mind alongside the local requirements above.

  • Layout, siting and building lines
  • Scale, height and massing
  • Side spacing and terracing
  • Extensions
  • Roof alterations and dormers
  • Outbuildings and ancillary structures
  • Materials and architectural detail
  • Boundaries, frontages and entrances

Section 4

Residential quality and housing form

Local requirement

Internal space standards

What does the authority say about internal space, room size, ceiling height and storage?

Policy LP27 requires new housing to meet the nationally described space standard and applies qualitative requirements for outlook, light, ventilation, privacy and practical layouts.

When this answer applies
New-build housing and proposals creating self-contained homes.

Details and exceptions

  • The detailed measurements are in the current nationally described space standard and London Plan; Policy LP27 was not replaced by the 2026 Partial Review.

Sources used

  1. Wandsworth Local Plan 2023 (opens in a new tab)Development plan— Policy LP27, Housing Standards, pp. 359–363
  2. Wandsworth Local Plan Partial Review (opens in a new tab)Development plan— Introduction, printed p. 2 (PDF p. 4), confirming only LP23, LP24 and LP28–LP31 are replaced
Local requirement

Private amenity space

What does the authority say about private outdoor amenity space?

Policy LP27 expects at least 10 square metres of private outdoor space for one- and two-bedroom homes and at least 15 square metres for homes with three or more bedrooms, subject to the policy's design and context provisions.

When this answer applies
New housing and relevant conversions creating homes.

Details and exceptions

  • The form and quality of space, London Plan requirements and any justified site constraints must be considered alongside the numerical expectation; LP27 remains part of the 2023 plan.

Sources used

  1. Wandsworth Local Plan 2023 (opens in a new tab)Development plan— Policy LP27, Housing Standards, pp. 359–363
  2. Wandsworth Local Plan Partial Review (opens in a new tab)Development plan— Introduction, printed p. 2 (PDF p. 4), supersession boundary
Local requirement

Housing mix, size and density

What does the authority say about dwelling mix, size and density for market housing?

Revised Policy LP24 applies the housing-size mix in its table and normally caps studio homes at 5% on schemes of 10 or more homes, with separate tenure expectations for affordable housing.

When this answer applies
Housing development, particularly schemes of 10 or more homes and schemes providing affordable housing.

Details and exceptions

  • The final mix responds to identified need, site circumstances, housing type and viability under the policy's detailed criteria.

Sources used

  1. Wandsworth Local Plan Partial Review (opens in a new tab)Development plan— Revised Policy LP24, Housing Mix, printed pp. 9–10 (PDF pp. 11–12)
Other planning topics9

Keep these national checklist topics in mind alongside the local requirements above.

  • Shared amenity and play space
  • Accessible and adaptable homes
  • Older-person, care and supported housing
  • Build to rent
  • Student and co-living accommodation
  • Annexes and ancillary accommodation
  • Subdivision and flat conversion
  • HMOs and room-based shared housing
  • Infill, backland and garden development

Section 5

Movement, parking and servicing

Local requirement

Vehicle parking

What does the authority say about vehicle-parking quantities, dimensions, layout and flexibility?

Policy LP51 applies the London Plan parking standards, supports car-free or car-lite development in accessible locations and requires parking design to address disabled users, safety and electric charging.

When this answer applies
Development creating or changing vehicle-parking demand.

Details and exceptions

  • The current London Plan supplies the numerical standard; controlled-parking conditions and site accessibility affect the appropriate provision.

Sources used

  1. Wandsworth Local Plan 2023 (opens in a new tab)Development plan— Policy LP51, Parking, Servicing and Car-free Development, pp. 415–420
Local requirement

Cycle parking and storage

What does the authority say about cycle parking, storage and end-of-trip facilities?

Policy LP51 requires secure, convenient and accessible cycle parking in accordance with the current London Plan standards.

When this answer applies
Development generating resident, staff or visitor cycle-parking demand.

Details and exceptions

  • The current London Plan supplies numerical minimums by use and scale.

Sources used

  1. Wandsworth Local Plan 2023 (opens in a new tab)Development plan— Policy LP51, Parking, Servicing and Car-free Development, pp. 415–420
Policy guidance

Transport impacts, mitigation and monitoring

What does the authority say about assessing transport effects and securing mitigation, travel measures and monitoring?

Policy LP50 requires development to reduce car dependence, support sustainable travel and address transport and highway effects through safe access, appropriate assessment and mitigation.

When this answer applies
Development generating journeys or changing access, servicing or network conditions.

Details and exceptions

  • Transport evidence and mitigation depend on scale, use, location and current Transport for London and highway-authority requirements.

Sources used

  1. Wandsworth Local Plan 2023 (opens in a new tab)Development plan— Policy LP50, Sustainable Transport, pp. 413–415
Other planning topics7

Keep these national checklist topics in mind alongside the local requirements above.

  • Access, highway safety and visibility
  • Accessible parking
  • Electric-vehicle charging
  • Turning, emergency access and tracking
  • Servicing, loading and deliveries
  • Refuse and recycling storage and collection
  • Active travel and public transport

Section 6

Heritage, archaeology and views

Policy guidance

Listed buildings and their setting

What does the authority say about works affecting a listed building or its setting, including separate consent?

Policy LP3 requires development to conserve and, where appropriate, enhance heritage assets and their settings, based on an understanding of significance and a clear assessment of harm.

When this answer applies
Development affecting a listed building, conservation area, scheduled monument, archaeology or another heritage asset.

Details and exceptions

  • The statutory heritage duties, national policy and relevant conservation-area appraisal apply alongside LP3.

Sources used

  1. Wandsworth Local Plan 2023 (opens in a new tab)Development plan— Policy LP3, Historic Environment, pp. 290–296
Other planning topics4

Keep these national checklist topics in mind alongside the local requirements above.

  • Conservation areas
  • Non-designated heritage assets
  • Archaeology
  • Historic landscapes and important views

Section 7

Nature, landscape and open space

Policy guidance

Trees and tree preservation

What does the authority say about trees, root protection, replacement and protected-tree constraints?

Policy LP56 requires development to retain and protect important trees and woodland, integrate adequate rooting conditions and provide appropriate replacement and new planting.

When this answer applies
Development affecting trees, woodland or proposed landscaping.

Details and exceptions

  • Tree preservation orders, conservation-area controls, veteran or ancient tree status and a current arboricultural assessment must be checked at site level.

Sources used

  1. Wandsworth Local Plan 2023 (opens in a new tab)Development plan— Policy LP56, Tree Management and Landscaping, pp. 432–435
Policy guidance

Designated habitats and impact zones

What does the authority say about designated habitats, ecological networks, consultation zones and strategic mitigation areas?

Policy LP55 protects designated nature-conservation sites, priority habitats, ecological networks and protected species and requires development to avoid, mitigate and, where necessary, compensate for biodiversity harm.

When this answer applies
Development within or capable of affecting designated sites, habitats, ecological networks or protected species.

Details and exceptions

  • Current site designations, species data and any habitats-regulations assessment must establish the proposal-specific constraints.

Sources used

  1. Wandsworth Local Plan 2023 (opens in a new tab)Development plan— Policy LP55, Biodiversity, pp. 429–432
Local requirement

Biodiversity net gain

What does the authority say about biodiversity-net-gain metrics, percentages, exemptions, delivery and monitoring?

Policy LP55 requires development to deliver measurable biodiversity gains, with its supporting text identifying a minimum 10% net gain and long-term delivery and management.

When this answer applies
Development subject to biodiversity-net-gain requirements, with statutory exemptions and the applicable delivery route considered separately.

Details and exceptions

  • The statutory biodiversity-net-gain regime, current metric, exemptions and off-site or credits hierarchy must be applied alongside the Local Plan.

Sources used

  1. Wandsworth Local Plan 2023 (opens in a new tab)Development plan— Policy LP55 and supporting biodiversity-net-gain text, pp. 429–432
Other planning topics7

Keep these national checklist topics in mind alongside the local requirements above.

  • Hedgerows
  • Ancient woodland and veteran trees
  • Protected species
  • Nationally designated landscapes
  • Landscape character and visual impact
  • Local Green Space
  • Green infrastructure, open space and recreation

Section 8

Flooding, environment and climate

Local requirement

Flood risk and the sequential approach

What does the authority say about flood zones, sequential and exception tests, vulnerability, levels and resilience?

Policy LP12 applies the sequential approach to all sources of flood risk, requires the exception test where necessary and expects development to be safe for its lifetime without increasing flood risk elsewhere.

When this answer applies
Development in mapped flood-risk areas or otherwise triggering a flood-risk assessment.

Details and exceptions

  • Current national policy, Environment Agency mapping, the borough strategic flood-risk assessment and vulnerability classification determine the detailed route.

Sources used

  1. Wandsworth Local Plan 2023 (opens in a new tab)Development plan— Policy LP12, Water and Flooding, pp. 314–323
Policy guidance

Drainage and sustainable drainage

What does the authority say about surface-water hierarchy, runoff, attenuation, SuDS, adoption and maintenance?

Policy LP12 requires sustainable drainage following the drainage hierarchy, with runoff controlled as close to source as practicable and opportunities for water quality, biodiversity and amenity benefits used.

When this answer applies
Development creating or changing impermeable area or surface-water drainage.

Details and exceptions

  • The drainage strategy, runoff rate, attenuation and maintenance arrangements depend on site conditions and current lead local flood authority guidance.

Sources used

  1. Wandsworth Local Plan 2023 (opens in a new tab)Development plan— Policy LP12, Water and Flooding, pp. 314–323
Local requirement

Energy, carbon and sustainable construction

What does the authority say about energy hierarchy, operational or embodied carbon, renewable energy and sustainable construction for ordinary development?

Policy LP10 requires development to minimise energy demand and carbon emissions through the energy hierarchy and comply with the current London Plan's operational and whole-life carbon requirements.

When this answer applies
New development and substantial refurbishment, with evidence proportionate to use and scale.

Details and exceptions

  • The current London Plan, Building Regulations and detailed energy-assessment requirements provide the numerical target and accounting method.

Sources used

  1. Wandsworth Local Plan 2023 (opens in a new tab)Development plan— Policy LP10, Responding to the Climate Crisis, pp. 306–311
Local requirement

Water efficiency

What does the authority say about potable-water efficiency and consumption standards?

Policy LP10 requires new homes to be designed for water consumption of no more than 110 litres per person per day.

When this answer applies
New residential development.

Details and exceptions

  • The requirement is implemented through the applicable Building Regulations optional standard and must be evidenced in the scheme.

Sources used

  1. Wandsworth Local Plan 2023 (opens in a new tab)Development plan— Policy LP10, Responding to the Climate Crisis, pp. 306–311
Other planning topics7

Keep these national checklist topics in mind alongside the local requirements above.

  • Coastal change and erosion
  • Contaminated land
  • Land stability and mining legacy
  • Air quality
  • Water environment, wastewater and nutrients
  • Overheating and climate resilience
  • Agricultural land and soils

Section 9

Housing delivery and contributions

Local requirement

Affordable housing

What does the authority say about affordable-housing thresholds, percentages, tenure or mix, delivery and exceptions?

Revised Policy LP23 seeks 50% affordable housing on strategic schemes. For major schemes of 10 or more homes it applies the policy's 35% or 50% fast-track thresholds, while schemes of one to nine homes provide 15% on site or a contribution calculated at £50,000 per market home.

When this answer applies
Residential development creating one or more homes, with different routes for small, major, public-land and strategic schemes.

Details and exceptions

  • The revised policy seeks at least 70% social rent and no more than 30% intermediate housing, subject to its detailed route and exceptions.
  • The council states that the small-sites contribution applies to applications validated after 11:59pm on 28 July 2026; earlier applications require transition checking.

Sources used

  1. Wandsworth Local Plan Partial Review (opens in a new tab)Development plan— Revised Policy LP23 and supporting text, printed pp. 3–8 (PDF pp. 5–10)
  2. Affordable housing small sites contributions (opens in a new tab)Official guidance— Affordable housing small sites contributions page, implementation date updated 6 August 2026
Policy guidance

Section 106 and infrastructure contributions

What does the authority say about planning obligations, infrastructure contributions, calculation and delivery?

Policy LP62 requires development to provide or fund infrastructure and mitigation needed to make it acceptable, using planning obligations where the statutory tests are met and coordinating delivery and monitoring.

When this answer applies
Development whose effects create a need for affordable housing, infrastructure or other mitigation.

Details and exceptions

  • The obligation must be necessary, directly related and fairly and reasonably related in scale and kind; Community Infrastructure Levy is a separate charge.

Sources used

  1. Wandsworth Local Plan 2023 (opens in a new tab)Development plan— Policy LP62, Planning Obligations, pp. 443–446
Other planning topics3

Keep these national checklist topics in mind alongside the local requirements above.

  • Community Infrastructure Levy
  • Viability
  • Delivery, phasing and monitoring

Section 10

Application evidence and validation

Local requirement

Local validation list and core information

What does the authority say is required by its current local validation list, including forms, ownership notices, plans and core information?

Wandsworth's Local Planning Application Requirements identify the national and local forms, plans, statements and technical evidence required for validation, with additional documents triggered by development type and site constraints.

When this answer applies
All applications, with individual local requirements determined by the current checklist triggers.

Details and exceptions

  • Validation is a procedural completeness check and does not establish policy compliance or permission.

Sources used

  1. Local Planning Application Requirements (opens in a new tab)Validation requirement— Local Planning Application Requirements, application-type and local-information checklist
Other planning topics11

Keep these national checklist topics in mind alongside the local requirements above.

  • Design and Access and Planning Statements
  • Heritage and archaeology evidence
  • Trees, landscape, ecology and BNG evidence
  • Flood, drainage and water evidence
  • Transport, parking and travel evidence
  • Ground and pollution evidence
  • Energy, sustainability and climate evidence
  • Affordable housing, viability and contributions evidence
  • Construction, demolition and waste evidence
  • Environmental Impact Assessment
  • Fire statements and planning-gateway evidence

Section 11

Economic, community and specialist uses

Other planning topics22

Keep these national checklist topics in mind alongside the local requirements above.

  • Employment sites and premises
  • Retail, town centres and main-town-centre uses
  • Community facilities
  • Tourism and visitor accommodation
  • Agriculture and farm diversification
  • Rural workers' dwellings
  • Equestrian development
  • Traveller, Gypsy and showpeople sites
  • Caravan, camping and holiday parks
  • Aviation, airports and aerodrome safeguarding
  • Telecommunications
  • Advertisements and signage
  • Shopfront design
  • Solar energy
  • Wind energy
  • Battery energy storage
  • Other renewable and low-carbon infrastructure
  • Hazardous installations and pipelines
  • Defence, radar and technical safeguarding
  • Ports and strategic transport infrastructure
  • Minerals
  • Waste development

Section 12

Separate consents and private matters

Other planning topics6

Keep these national checklist topics in mind alongside the local requirements above.

  • Building Regulations
  • Party Wall matters
  • Private rights to light
  • Covenants, boundaries and ownership
  • Highway licences and adoption
  • Environmental and other permits

Source library

Official documents used

Every requirement above links to its supporting document and source location. Browse all of the cited London Borough of Wandsworth sources together here.

Browse 4 cited documents