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Iron bridge and new apartment buildings beside the River Aire in Leeds at night

Planning Consultants in Leeds

Pre-application advice, applications and appeals, costed by the team that builds.

Our track record

100% of projects delivered ahead
of programme and on budget

Our Development Director's record

  • 10,000+homes through planning, Development Director's record
  • 4,000+homes delivered by our Development Director
  • 850homes consented at Kennet Island, led by our Development Director
  • £225M+of land acquired, Development Director's record

Planning in Leeds: what gets approved

Craftex are planning consultants for developers and owners with sites in Leeds, working with Leeds City Council. We take schemes from pre-application advice to decision or appeal, and our own build team costs every option before it is submitted.

Leeds is one council, one development plan and a lot of protected land. Green Belt covers 61.3% of the district. So most new homes go where the Site Allocations Plan already points: the city centre, the Aire Valley and the allocated edges. Schemes that win here follow those allocations, meet the on-site requirements tied to them and show their sums early. Our London team works through the Leeds plan, then our planning consultants set the layout and the budget against it.

That reading comes from a housebuilder: Rob Barton, who leads our planning work, won consent for 10,000+ homes before he joined us. Prefer to read first? The free planning guide is one click away. Or share the Leeds address: the same working day, you get a first view.

White architectural scale model of a house with glazed walls and steps, on a table

Trusted by leading businesses

  • Trainline
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  • Minds Ahead
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How do our planning consultants help in Leeds?

Six services for a Leeds site. Use one or all of them.

GPS survey pole and tripod set up on grassland with a city skyline in the distance

Site appraisal and strategy

Allocation, Green Belt edge, conservation area and planning history checked on the Leeds policies map.

Hand sketching a layout on a clipboard during a site briefing

Pre-application advice

We write the enquiry for the council's paid pre-app service and present the scheme to officers.

Printed construction drawings on a desk with drafting tools and a protractor

Full and outline applications

A complete Leeds submission, CIL form included, managed through every consultee response until the council decides.

Calculator, pie charts and a pencil on a desk

Viability, Section 106 and CIL

Leeds CIL, Section 106 and allocation requirements such as greenspace priced into the appraisal.

Hand-drawn sketch plans on a desk next to a calculator, pen and keyboard

Costed before it is submitted

Our builders price each option while the architect draws it, so the consent is buildable.

Hand-drawn floor plan sketch with annotations and a pen on a timber desk

Appeals and refused schemes

We test a Leeds refusal against the plan, then choose between a revised scheme and an appeal.

Send the Leeds site details and we name the ones it needs.

Leeds City Council planning: what developers need to know

A plan in two layers

Leeds decides applications under its Core Strategy of 2014, amended by a selective review in 2019, and the Site Allocations Plan. That plan was adopted in July 2019, challenged in the High Court and re-adopted on 17 January 2024. The remittal returned 36 housing sites to the Green Belt. A new Leeds Local Plan began in June 2026. The council's timetable puts adoption at 1 March 2029, with consultation on the proposed plan from October 2027.

Decision speed in Leeds

In the year to June 2026 the council decided 91 major applications. Only 19 met the 13-week clock; 67 ran on an agreed extension or a planning performance agreement, and 91.2% landed within the agreed time. That equals the England figure. Of 2,926 smaller decisions, 93.3% were on time. In practice, a Leeds major scheme runs to a timetable agreed with the case officer.

Green Belt, allocations and the centre

At 31 March 2026, Green Belt covered 33,840 hectares, 61.3% of the district. Allocated sites carry their own requirements, from greenspace and roads to schools and flood storage, plus phasing. In the city centre, height is tested against the Tall Buildings Design Guide, adopted in 2010 and still in force. Conservation areas restrict permitted development and some demolition.

CIL and who decides

Leeds has charged CIL since 6 April 2015 on every new home and on new floor space over 100 m². Rates are set by location and use. Most applications are decided by officers under delegated powers. Significant schemes go to a Plans Panel; since May 2026 there are two, East and West.

Which allocation, Green Belt line or Plans Panel route applies to your Leeds land? Send the address and we look it up.

How it works

How do we take a Leeds scheme through planning?

01

Read the Leeds plan

Send the address. We check the allocation, the Green Belt line and the site's history, then set the strategy.

02

Book the right pre-app level

Leeds prices advice by size: £540 for 1-4 homes, £3,000 for 10-49, £6,950 for 50-199, VAT included. Each option needs its own enquiry, so we submit the strongest one.

03

Draw and cost together

Layouts drawn to the Core Strategy and allocation, then priced by our build team with Leeds CIL and Section 106.

04

Submit with an agreed timeline

A complete application, plus a written decision date or performance agreement with the case officer.

05

Panel, conditions and delivery

We speak at the Plans Panel if needed, clear conditions, then build or introduce a builder, depending on location.

Cover of the free Craftex Guide to Planning and Prior Approval

The Craftex Guide to Planning and Prior Approval

Full permission, PD rights, prior approval, change of use: the guide shows which of them a Leeds building can use. Inside: statutory deadlines, a document checklist and the refusal reasons we see most. Worth reading before a Leeds architect starts drawing.

Our promises

Six promises, written into your contract

Each of these goes into the Leeds appointment letter; ask to see the wording.

  1. Allocation checked in the first reply

    We tell you whether the Site Allocations Plan names your land, and on what terms.

    the plan reference in writing.

  2. Honesty about Green Belt edges

    If your Leeds field sits outside the allocations, we say so before you spend on design.

    a written risk note with the appraisal.

  3. Builders' numbers behind every layout

    Our construction team prices each option, with Leeds CIL in the sum.

    a cost plan beside every drawing.

  4. Your agreement before any new spend

    Extra surveys, reports or redesigns start only once you have approved scope and cost in writing.

    written sign-off on every variation, kept on file.

  5. A housebuilder's planning instinct

    Before Craftex, Rob Barton steered 10,000+ homes through planning as a housebuilding managing director.

    850 homes consented at Kennet Island, Reading.

  6. Cover confirmed on day one

    £10M of public and employers' liability is in place, with PI cover available if you ask. An RICS-qualified quantity surveyor on our team checks every cost line.

    £10M liability cover held today.

Example planning quotation from another firm, items listed, with the note: send it to us, we will beat it

Already have a quote? Send it to us. We'll beat it.

Got a fee proposal from a Leeds planning practice? Send it to us. We'll beat it. One of our directors reads it against the Leeds pre-app level and the reports your allocation will need. A reply follows the same working day, with what we would charge instead.

Compare your quotes

Why are planning applications refused in Leeds?

Six reasons Leeds schemes are turned down, and what we do instead. Refused by Leeds City Council already? Send us the decision notice and the officer report.

AreaThe usual riskWith Craftex
Building in the Green Belthouses proposed on open land outside the allocations.grey belt and very special circumstances tested before money goes on design.
Ignoring the allocation's termsan allocated site submitted without its greenspace, school or flood storage share.every requirement in the site's SAP entry built into the layout.
Height in the wrong placea city-centre tower with no townscape case.views and wind tested against the Tall Buildings Design Guide first.
Relying on a lost allocationa scheme drafted on one of the 36 sites taken out in 2024.the 2024 policies map checked before the land price is agreed.
Weak heritage evidencea conservation area scheme sent in without a heritage statement.a heritage case that shows how the design keeps the area's character.
Sums that fail at committeeCIL and Section 106 counted late, and viability collapses.both priced per option in the appraisal.

Planning application fees in Leeds, 2026

Leeds City Council charges the national application fee for England. The figures below are the Planning Portal schedule in force from 1 April 2026, checked on 4 November 2026. Pre-application advice is charged separately, as shown above. We quote for our own work after seeing the site and its constraints.

ApplicationBasisFee £
New homesPer dwellinghouse, fewer than 10610
New homesPer dwellinghouse, between 10 and 50659
New homes, more than 50£32,578 plus £196 per additional dwellinghouse, maximum £427,53732,578+
Outline applicationPer 0.1 hectare, site area less than 0.5 hectares610
New non-residential floor spacePer 75 m², more than 40 m² but less than 1,000 m²610
Variation or removal of a conditionNon-major development608
Discharge of conditionsAny other development309
Non-material amendmentAny other case309

Need the exact fee and planning route for your Leeds plot? Give us the address and we will work it out.

Planning consultant case studies

These sites are outside Leeds. Our Development Director led the planning team at Kennet Island and the bid for Crab Hill before he joined us; Allitsen Road is a Craftex project. Bring us a Leeds site and we apply the same costed method.

Our team

  • in

Planning consultants in Leeds: your questions

How long does Leeds City Council take to decide?

The statutory period is 8 weeks, or 13 for a major scheme. Leeds decided 91 majors in the year to June 2026 and most ran on an agreed extension. We fix a realistic decision date with the case officer at the start.

Does Leeds offer pre-application advice, and what does it cost?

Yes, as a paid service that is optional. Fees run from £540 for 1-4 homes to £14,000 for more than 200, and a planning performance agreement starts at £24,000. Each fee covers advice on one option only.

How much do planning consultants charge in Leeds?

That depends on the site, the scale and the reports the council will ask for. We do not publish fees. Get in touch and we will discuss your project; the statutory application fee is in the table above.

Is my Leeds site in the Green Belt?

Possibly: 61.3% of the district is. Give us the address and we will look it up on the policies map. That includes the 36 sites returned to the Green Belt in 2024 and any conservation area.

Which Leeds plan applies, and is my site allocated?

The Core Strategy and the Site Allocations Plan 2019, as amended in 2024, apply now. A new Leeds Local Plan is due for adoption in March 2029. We look up your site's allocation and its requirements.

Can you appeal a Leeds refusal for me?

Yes. Most appeals must reach the Planning Inspectorate within six months of the decision; householder cases within 12 weeks. We compare an appeal with a revised application first, then agree the scope with you.

Do I need a planning consultant based in Leeds?

No. We work from London, deal with Leeds officers remotely and travel to the site and meetings when it helps. Knowing the Leeds plan matters more than a local postcode.

Will you build the scheme after consent?

Depending on where the site is, we either take on the build ourselves or bring in a builder. Planning, design and cost sit in one team, so the scheme consented is the one we priced.

Which project sizes do you take in Leeds?

Schemes worth £3M to £150M GDV, whether a small infill plot or a large allocated site. For something smaller, ask; we will say plainly whether we fit.

What our clients say

See all reviews on Google
  • Hired Craftex for our conversion project. We had to convert a 600m2 office into 8 apartments. Guys did an excellent job in terms of program efficiency and quality of the finishes which gave us a big upside to exit the project 2 months faster than other competitors’ timelines.

    Misha Levit

  • Great experience from start to finish. Communication was clear, the workmanship was excellent, and the whole project was managed professionally.

    Rhea Langford

  • I’d like to thank the team at Сraftex for the work they did on our office.
    It was really important for us to get the work done quickly, but without compromising on quality, as we regularly have clients and guests visiting and needed to move into the new office within a month.
    We spent around two weeks discussing and agreeing all the details before the work started. What I really appreciated was that everything we agreed beforehand was actually followed through during the job. The work was also completed on time.
    Thanks to the whole Сraftex team for a great job. I’d definitely use them again if we need any work done in the future.

    IURII PYLYPETS

  • We recently worked with Craftex and honestly couldn’t be happier with the results. From start to finish, the team was professional, reliable, and highly skilled. The quality of workmanship exceeded our expectations, and everything was completed on time and to a very high standard.
    Communication throughout the project was excellent, and they always went above and beyond to make sure we were satisfied. It’s rare to find a construction company that combines professionalism, attention to detail, and great customer service so well.
    Without a doubt, Craftex is one of the best construction companies we have ever worked with. Highly recommended to anyone looking for quality and trustworthy builders.

    Adam Miah

  • Craftex has completed a range of both small and large-scale projects on our commercial property with exceptional precision and quality. Dmitriy consistently delivers courteous, prompt service and has shown great flexibility in accommodating last-minute changes to plans and timelines. I highly recommend Craftex for their professionalism and outstanding workmanship.

    Pascal Hunt

  • Great company to work with as always. Super flexible at dealing with evolving requirements and fast deployment and execution.

    Akshay Khanna

  • Hired Craftex to do the full design and fit out of my gym in Chelsea. Super efficient and fast team. They gave the best price and a proper fast track program. We managed to open in less than 6 weeks with no headaches or surprises during construction. Quality was great, we had zero snags on completion. I’ve worked with a few companies before but these guys really impressed me from project management to how they treat the client. Top GGs.

    Александр Хоменко

  • I worked perfectly with Sviat and Joe, with their architect they came up with a very smart design for our office to fit more desks and optimise the space to its maximum capacity. They also did excellent value engineering on the MEP design proposed by others, allowing us to save around £50K. The quality and speed were outstanding we finished two weeks ahead of schedule. Highly recommend these guys.

    John Smith

  • Happy with the end result. Tight timeline but they pulled it off. The team worked late shifts and even weekends to help us open the doors on schedule. Site was always left tidy at the end of the day and no surprise charges either. Good communication throughout. Would definitely use Craftex again.

    Pawel Kamionka

  • Highly recommended!
    Craftex are the kind of fit-out contractors in London you can truly trust. From the very first meeting, they understood our vision and gave practical ideas to make the most of our space. They turned our old storage area into a clean, efficient, and well-organized warehouse. The team was professional, easy to work with, and clearly took pride in their work.

    Monika Kamionka

  • We brought in Craftex to refurb our London office and honestly, they made the whole thing way easier than we expected. They listened, suggested ideas we wouldn’t have thought of, and explained everything clearly. Not the cheapest quote we got, but the end result shows why, the place looks modern, clean, and our team actually enjoys being here now. Communication was spot-on too. No chasing and confusion, deadlines were hit. If you want people who genuinely care and don’t treat your project like “another job,” I’d recommend them.

    A Google User

  • Sviat and his team at Craftex were brilliant to work with on our office redesign. From the first meeting, they took the time to understand how we actually use the space rather than just pitching generic solutions. They came back with clever, practical ideas to maximise use of the space and get more employees and desks inside . Every step was handled professionally, and the process felt surprisingly smooth for a project of this size. They finished one week ahead of schedule, and the transformation is clear — our office feels brighter, more functional, and much more welcoming. I’d happily recommend Craftex to anyone who wants a reliable design team that also makes the journey enjoyable.

    Cucu Iulian

  • We recently worked with Sviat and the Craftex team on a complete warehouse refurbishment, and the results have been outstanding. From the very beginning, their team was professional, organized, and attentive to every detail. The project was completed on time and within budget, without disrupting our day-to-day operations.

    Simone Racaku

  • My experience with Craftex was excellent from beginning to end. They took the time to really listen to what I wanted and then offered practical suggestions that made the design even better. I always felt like they cared about creating a space that worked for me, not just one that looked nice on paper. The end result is an office that feels stylish, welcoming, and very functional for day-to-day work. The process itself was straightforward, well-managed, and never stressful. I’d definitely recommend Craftex if you’re looking for office design and build services in London — they made the whole journey a positive one.

    Ion Bounegru

  • I’m really pleased with my experience working with Craftex. As a commercial construction firm, they handled everything from start to finish without any unnecessary stress on my side. What impressed me was how they suggested practical ideas that improved the design while also keeping things realistic. The communication was always clear, so I never felt out of the loop. The project ran smoothly, deadlines were met, and the end result is exactly what I was hoping for — a space that feels both functional and modern. It’s not easy finding contractors who are this reliable, but Craftex definitely proved they can be trusted.

    Taron Papoyan

  • I had an amazing experience working with Sviat and the Craftex team on our office fit-out in London. They were always professional, responsive, and quick to offer the best advice whenever decisions needed to be made. I really appreciated how they balanced style with practicality — the office doesn’t just look fantastic, it works perfectly for our team. Everything was done with care and attention to detail, and the project never felt overwhelming because they managed it so well. Communication was clear from start to finish, and I always felt involved in the process. I would happily recommend Craftex to anyone looking for a trustworthy contractor.

    Artur Dvorak

  • Craftex carried out a warehouse fit-out for us, and I couldn’t be happier with the outcome. The space has been completely transformed into a highly organized and efficient environment that makes our daily operations much smoother.
    The team was professional but also very approachable — I always felt comfortable asking questions or giving feedback. They came up with smart, practical solutions that worked perfectly for our setup, and everything was explained clearly along the way.
    The best part was how they stuck to the agreed timeline, finishing on schedule without cutting corners. It’s rare to get both quality and reliability, but Craftex delivered both.

    Roma Shchukin

  • We’re extremely happy with Sviat and the Craftex team’s work. They suggested clever ideas, managed the project efficiently, and delivered a functional, modern space. The team was easy to communicate with and very professional throughout the process!

    Polina Lysenko

  • I can honestly say our office has been completely transformed thanks to Craftex. From the very first meeting, the team was approachable, professional, and full of creative ideas that really made sense for our business. They didn’t just focus on how the space would look but also how it would work for the team day-to-day. The new layout is efficient, modern, and welcoming, and you can tell they really thought about the details. The whole process was smooth and surprisingly stress-free. They kept me updated at every stage, which gave me confidence. I’m really happy with the results and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them to anyone.

    Mykyta Khadzhynov

  • The results from Craftex’s commercial refurbishment in London are fantastic. The team was friendly, clear in communication, and made sure the project stayed on track. The workspace now feels efficient, welcoming, and modern. Definitely a team you can trust!

    Alaa Betar

  • We hired Craftex for a commercial ground floor fit-out with 2 flats above. There were some minor co-ordination hiccups with third-party suppliers but the team kept it moving. Finish quality was strong. Kitchens and doors look great. I have already asked them for a quote on the next project.

    Ben Edell

  • These guys actually deliver. They handled our first industrial to residential conversion near Tower Bridge, turned an old warehouse into 4 modern flats. They stuck to the plan, kept the site clean and the timing was on point. No hidden extras, no drama, just a professional construction company in London that gets the job done.

    Богдан Главацкий

  • We recently hired Craftex for a commercial office fit-out project in Central London, and overall, we’re really happy with the result. There was a delay on our side with a custom glass partition supplier, but the Craftex team managed the construction schedule very professionally and kept everything on track. Their guys worked clean, respected our workspace and IT setup, and kept the site tidy throughout. If you're looking for a reliable office refurbishment company in London, I’d definitely recommend Craftex. Would use them again without hesitation.

    Ardian Beleshi

  • This was a full high-end renovation of my Victorian rental apartment in Westminster, just off Sloane Square and Belgravia. The scope included full fit-out: electrics, plumbing, a new bespoke kitchen, and a luxury bathroom refurbishment. Craftex took care of everything and made the process easy. They weren’t the cheapest, but you can tell they really know what they’re doing when it comes to prime London property renovations.
    The team was professional, organised, and genuinely seemed to care about getting everything right. I was especially impressed with the quality of the finish – the attention to detail really shows in every corner.
    I’m very happy with the results and would definitely recommend Craftex to anyone looking for reliable, high-quality renovation work in Central London.

    Наталия Цимбалюк

  • I was stressed about timing since we had bookings lined up, but they smashed it. Even worked Saturday to finish the floor. My clients love the look — the beauty salon fit-out turned out exactly how I wanted. Couldn’t have pulled it off without their help. Genuinely appreciate the way they communicated throughout the refurbishment. If you need reliable help with beauty salon design or fit-out, especially in a place like Chelsea — these are the guys.

    Rami Jusupova

  • We used Craftex for a shop-to-flat conversion in Chelsea — turning an old retail space into two rental units. Access wasn’t the easiest, but the guys handled it well, no drama. Quote was clear, no hidden extras, and they actually stuck to it, which is rare. Finish came out solid, exactly what we needed for rentals. Joe (PM) kept things ticking and communication was always on point. All in all, smooth job — would use them again for sure.👍

    Apartify Estates

  • Fuse Energy hired Craftex on the fit-out and installation of our engineering and research centre, which included electrical, heating, lighting, plumbing, and ventilation upgrades. They delivered everything to a high standard and were proactive throughout — even working weekends to help speed up the programme, despite not being contracted to. They managed last-minute changes very well, communication was clear and consistent, and the team was professional from start to finish. We’d happily recommend Craftex to anyone needing a reliable construction partner.

    Hainro Eybers

  • Holistic therapy space fit-out
    Super impressed. I had a very specific vision for the studio. calm tones, soft lighting, hidden storage etc. the craftex team just got it. build was done quicker than I expected and the guys were polite, tidy and actually listened. we had 2 snags on day one but they fixed it before the week was out. worth it for the peace of mind.

    Dariia Shvyryda

  • Made a full refurbishment and redesign of our Central London office. Fantastic work, quality service and reliable people. Can recommend it to everybody

    Nikita Nigai

  • Amazing experience with these guys. I trusted them my apartment in London and Business. They are always accurate, very professional, responsive and neat. They would always advice me right things for my best interest. I had luxury experience with them and I would definitely recommend Craftex to everyone.

    Motush Motushev

  • Could not be HAPPIER with Sviat and the Craftex team, they certainly showed me that they’re the number one office design company in London that we’ve had the pleasure of working with. They gave us a unique design just like we wanted, and we loved the first initial draft of the concept. Also have to give them props for Construction, I gave them a tight timeline as we needed to move our team in ASAP, so they pulled double shifts and I didn’t see a drop in quality. Will be to talking to the team when we move up to our next bigger office. Highly recommended A+++

    Mikhail Burdoev

  • Very professional company. Craftex did brilliant minimalistic design and completely refurbished my apartment to the highest quality.

    Vlad

  • I and my husband are very satisfied with Craftex's service and customer support. We bought a house in Hampstead and wanted to redesign and renovate it. On our initial free consultation with Sviat, we found out that we actually can do loft conversion and rear extension and add value to the property straight away.
    We worked with the Craftex design team to bring our vision to life and deliver planning approvals. At that time guys started stripping out to save time on the construction programme as we wanted to move in ASAP.
    We worked with very experienced project director Konstantin who was responsible for all aspects of project delivery from design to construction with a very good eye on details and customer care.
    We saved a lot of money by having professional advice from the start. Project management and quality at Craftex are at the highest level. Many thanks to Craftex Team.

    Lia Lavryk

  • ISO 9001
  • ISO 14001
  • ISO 45001
  • CHAS
  • Constructionline Gold
  • SafeContractor
  • TrustMark
  • FMB
  • NICEIC
  • NAPIT
  • MCS
  • CSCS
  • Considerate Constructors
  • RICS, Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
  • RIBA, Royal Institute of British Architects
  • ARB, Architects Registration Board
  • Public & Employers' Liability £10M
  • Professional Indemnity £10M
  • ISO 9001, 14001 and 45001 certified

Will your scheme get permission?

Send us the address and tell us what you want to build. You get an honest view of the planning route and its risks, free, before you spend a pound on design.

Unit 5, 160 Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W 9TR

info@craftex.co.uk

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