⬆️ Upward Expansion: Five Years Later, How the Permitted Development Rights Reshaped London's Skylines

Thursday 6th November 2025

We posted in 2020, the government announced ambitious changes to Permitted Development Rights (PDR) that allowed for the upward expansion of existing buildings without full planning permission. Our original post highlighted the enormous potential this presented for London boroughs like Barnet and Haringey.

Where We Are Now: Five years in, PDR has fundamentally changed the construction landscape:

The Reality of Infill: While initial enthusiasm was high, the challenge of technical and structural feasibility often proved greater than anticipated. Our experience with upward extensions confirms that while PDR simplifies the planning application, it does not eliminate the need for expert structural engineering and detailed design work.

The Infill Boom: For areas like Tottenham and Wood Green, the policy has unlocked smaller sites for housing. Projects converting commercial properties into residential units have been faster and more common. This shift has driven increased demand for specialist contractors who understand how to successfully deliver infill and repurpose projects under tight timeframes.

The Future: As councils like Haringey push for their new Local Plans (up to 2042), we anticipate PDR will become even more integrated into urban regeneration strategies, focusing on sustainable, energy-efficient vertical expansions rather than broad, unchecked growth.