Extension and planning drawings in Cheshunt and Waltham Cross

What is the housing like in Cheshunt and Waltham Cross?

Cheshunt and Waltham Cross are in the south of Broxbourne borough, next to the Lea Valley and the Essex and London borders. The housing is varied. Waltham Cross has Victorian and Edwardian terraces near the centre and flats, while Cheshunt has twentieth-century estates of semis and terraces, some of which replaced the old nurseries and glasshouses that once covered the area.

Further out, Goffs Oak and Flamstead End in EN7 have larger detached houses on bigger plots, where a side or rear extension is more often possible than on a tight terrace.

Raising a bungalow roof is outside the normal loft conversion rights, which do not let a roof rise above its highest existing point. Some bungalows built between 1948 and 2018 can add a storey through a prior approval application to the council, and others need full planning permission. That makes a bungalow loft a bigger design question than a standard loft.

What projects are common?

• rear extensions on terraced and semi-detached houses
• loft conversions, where Victorian terraces have steep roofs and many bungalows need a full first floor
• garage conversions on estates built when most families had one car
• rebuilding or enlarging a detached house on a larger plot

Which council do I deal with?

Most of EN7 and EN8 falls within Broxbourne Borough Council, which handles planning applications and building control. Waltham Abbey is next door but in Epping Forest District, Essex, and Enfield is a London borough, so check by postcode if your home is near the edge of the area.

What about listed buildings and conservation areas?

Waltham Cross is home to the Eleanor Cross, a major historic monument, and older buildings stand around the centre of both towns. If your home is listed or inside a conservation area, the rules on extensions and roof changes are tighter, and you may need listed building consent as well as planning permission.

Does the Green Belt apply?

Large parts of the area around the built-up edge of Cheshunt, Goffs Oak and Flamstead End are Green Belt. A larger house there can still use permitted development, but where an application is needed the council looks closely at size compared with the original dwelling.

What do I do next?

Send your postcode, the style of house and what you want to build. We pass your enquiry, with your consent, to a architectural designer, if one covers your postcode. If none does, we say so and do not share your details.