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Building Compliance in Wandsworth

Wandsworth Borough Council’s planning service handles proposals across the borough. For developers, architects and landlords, this page connects its published energy, noise and property licensing requirements with the assessments needed for new homes, conversions and alterations.

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Wandsworth’s carbon evidence and adopted plan

The Wandsworth Local Plan 2023-2038 was adopted on 19 July 2023. The Partial Review, adopted on 4 March 2026, replaces six housing policies, not the climate policies. Read the two documents together rather than assuming the review replaced the whole plan. For compliance scoping, the council’s July 2026 validation checklist identifies LP10, Responding to the Climate Crisis, and LP11, Energy Infrastructure, as the energy assessment policy basis.

Wandsworth’s adopted-plan page confirms that the London Plan forms part of the borough’s development plan alongside the Local Plan. The London Plan 2021 therefore belongs in the same evidence schedule. Our London Plan energy assessments can bring borough and London-wide requirements into one submission, with assumptions that match the proposed building.

Wandsworth requirementEvidence to prepare
Energy and sustainability: LP10 and LP11The July 2026 Local Validation Checklist requires an energy assessment for all new residential development and major non-residential development. Set out demand, emissions and the contribution of efficiency and renewables through an energy statement. Minor non-residential schemes are encouraged to provide one too.
Major development carbon standardThe checklist requires zero-carbon standards for new major development, including at least 35% on-site carbon reduction. It also specifies efficiency contributions within that reduction. Show the calculation stages separately so the design does not rely on renewable generation to conceal avoidable energy demand.
Smaller new residential buildingsThe checklist also requires at least 35% on-site carbon reduction for non-major new residential development in new buildings. A single new dwelling is not outside the energy evidence requirement. Coordinate its SAP calculations with the planning energy model instead of developing two inconsistent specifications.

Source: Source: Wandsworth Borough Council Local Validation Checklist, July 2026, items 11-13.

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Wandsworth noise and construction evidence

The July 2026 checklist requires a noise impact assessment where a noise-sensitive proposal sits next to an existing noise source, or where the proposal could generate noise. It identifies LP2 and LP14 as local policy references. This applies to the relationship between uses, not just the size of the application. Arrange noise surveys before fixing the position of bedrooms, plant or external amenity space.

Wandsworth’s noise assessment requirements include background measurements over 24 hours, proposed output, mitigation, methods, calculations and equipment specifications. Give the acoustician the actual plant schedule and operating pattern. Use acoustic design to test the resulting treatment against the layout, rather than submitting a survey with no route to delivering its recommendations.

The same checklist asks for a BREEAM pre-assessment for non-residential planning applications over 100 square metres, and identifies a domestic refurbishment pre-assessment for changes of use to residential. These are separate entries from the energy assessment. A sustainability statement can explain the wider design response, but should not be presented as a substitute for the specified certification evidence.

Wandsworth rental licensing now reaches seven wards

The council’s property licence checker says additional licensing started on 1 July 2025 for HMOs not already covered by mandatory licensing. Its large-HMO description covers at least five tenants from two or more households sharing facilities. Establish occupancy and household arrangements before deciding which route applies; calling a property a flat does not settle its licensing position.

The licence checker lists Furzedown, Tooting Bec, Tooting Broadway and South Balham under selective designation 1 from July 2025. East Putney, West Putney and Northcote joined under designation 2 from April 2026. Selective licensing covers other privately rented properties in those designations, rather than properties already covered by mandatory or additional licensing. Check the address against the council’s map instead of relying on a neighbourhood name.

Wandsworth explicitly distinguishes a property licence from planning permission and says HMOs for seven or more people need planning permission. Keep those applications separate from the property safety evidence. We can arrange fire risk assessments, EPCs and legionella risk assessments where appropriate to the building. That assessment package does not itself grant either permission or a licence.

Wandsworth conservation areas and alterations

Wandsworth’s conservation guidance identifies 46 conservation areas, ranging from Battersea Square to the Alton Estates in Roehampton. It explains that appraisals describe the character to conserve and management plans guide change. For a retrofit, read the relevant area document before settling external insulation, replacement windows or visible equipment. Retrofit assessments should inform options that can also respect those local constraints.

The same guidance says permitted development rights do not apply to flats or houses converted into flats, and discusses restrictions on changes to external appearance. Do not assume an energy improvement is automatically acceptable because it reduces heat loss. Develop U-value calculations around the construction you can actually propose, then check the consent position before ordering replacement components.

Wandsworth planning and Building Control contacts

The council uses the name Wandsworth Borough Council on its planning pages. Its Building Control service separately provides application information and a route to request site visits. For Wandsworth new homes, conversions and commercial alterations, keep the planning report schedule alongside the construction evidence schedule. We arrange accredited assessors; the council’s application and inspection functions remain separate from our reports.

Building compliance questions in Wandsworth

Does a single new Wandsworth home need an energy assessment?

Yes. The July 2026 checklist applies the energy assessment requirement to all new residential development, not only major schemes. It also sets an on-site carbon reduction requirement for non-major new homes in new buildings.

Which Wandsworth selective licensing wards were added in 2026?

The council’s licensing page lists East Putney, West Putney and Northcote from April 2026. They are additional to the four wards covered from July 2025. Check whether mandatory or additional HMO licensing applies first.

Did the Wandsworth Partial Review replace the climate policies?

No. The adopted-plan page identifies six replacement housing policies: LP23, LP24 and LP28 to LP31. It says the remaining policies in the 2023-2038 plan stay in force.

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