FAQs

We provide a free pre-application advice service to provide guidance before an application is submitted. Speaking to us before you begin your application can assist with the application process.

The HAS team are always available on email and phone (01462 530335).  We would recommend that you make an appointment if you would like to see a member of the team on a Tuesday or Thursday. 

Once you have decided what changes you would like to carry out on your home, check your character area and read the Design Principles for your character area. You can download the application form to apply and use our Online Portal to make your application.

The Scheme of Management applies to all Freehold properties within the Letchworth Garden City Estate. The Scheme of Management document can be found here.

All leasehold properties have covenants attached to the leasehold which may require Consent from Letchworth Garden City for any external alterations and additions.

You will need to apply to your housing association who will either apply to us on your behalf or will consider your application under their own procedures.

Most works affecting the external appearance of your property and its gardens, as well as outbuildings (such as larger sheds) and tree removal. Full details can be found within our Design Principles which are relevant to the area in which you live.

Landlord’s Consent is separate to permissions from other organizations, such as North Herts District Council’s planning and building control departments or the highway authority.

Yes. All external alterations require an application. In some cases, such as replacement windows, the existing details may not be historically accurate and we will ask for the new windows to follow the original design.

We have no arrangements with any contractors nor issue pre-arranged consents. It is the responsibility of the homeowner to get written consent before the works are carried out. If the contractor carries out work without our consent, the breach of the legal contract falls to you to deal with.

You can apply via our Online Application Portal or apply via email at home@letchworth.com or by dropping your application off at One Garden City, Broadway, Letchworth Garden City, Herts, SG6 3BF.

We aim to get our decisions out through between 4 and 6 weeks following submission of your proposals. However, in some circumstances, where there may need to be amendments to the proposals, it can take a little longer.

When purchasing your property, you need to register with the Heritage Foundation. This is a legal agreement between you as the home owner and the Heritage Foundation as your Landlord.

Any registration enquiries should be emailed to property@letchworth.com.

For major works to a property, we do notify neighbours to give them an opportunity to comment on the proposals. The best way to respond is via email.

First Stage Approval grants written consent for proposed works to commence.

It is very important that if you wish to change your plans that you contact us to discuss the changes and submit plans for our approval. We may be able to issue a Minor Works Approval if the proposals are slightly tweaked. For more substantial changes, we might ask for a fresh application.

'Final Approval' is the written consent that the proposed works were carried out in accordance with the First Stage Approval, and approval documentation. A Plan Approval Notice is issued at this final stage.

Once approved you have 3 years in which to carry out the works.

If your application is refused, you can either talk to the Case Officer to see if an amended scheme would be acceptable and submit a fresh application.

Alternatively you can seek for the decision to be reviewed by the Advisory Management Committee (AMC) who will report their findings to the Householders Application Committee (HAC) for a decision.

If your application is approved, you can then carry out the works once you have received the paperwork.

In the event that your application is refused by HAC following AMC (Advisory Management Committee), you can apply to the Independent Inspector.

If works are carried out without the written Consent of Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation, the homeowner is in breach of the Scheme of Management or of their lease. In the first instance a retrospective application needs to be submitted for the works with a fee of £216 (incl VAT).

A Retrospective Application is submitted when works have been carried out without the written consent of the Heritage Foundation. The application does not automatically grant consent for the works. In many circumstances the works are refused or granted No Consent.

If your application has been refused, you can rectify the works so that they can be granted Consent.

Alternatively you can seek for the decision to be reviewed by the Advisory Management Committee who will report their findings to the Householders Application Committee for a decision. If your application is approved, you will receive paperwork to confirm the works are acceptable.

The works are carried out at your own risk and you are in breach of your lease or of the Scheme of Management. This could result in difficulties when coming to sell your property and could results in legal action being taken by the Heritage Foundation.

In the event that you wish to sell your property, you will need to make sure that you have any Consents received from the Heritage Foundation to hand over to your Solicitor.

Works carried out prior to December 2009 were subject to a single approval and no further paperwork is required unless the works do not comply with the approved plans.

Your works will require a Final Stage Approval which needs to be signed off and a Plan Approval Notice (PAN) is issued. Photographs of the work will need to be submitted to the Heritage and Stewardship Team to be checked and if they comply a PAN will be issued.

All works under the Scheme of Management or a Lease will require our Consent. Where there are no Consents on our records, even if the works are prior to your occupancy of the property, the works remain in breach of the SoM or lease until an application has been approved.

Where works have been carried out without Consent, a retrospective application will need to be submitted. As this is additional work for the HAS as it falls outside the remit of the SoM and/or lease, there is a charge for the application. Currently a retrospective application carries a fee of £216 (incl VAT) for up to 3 alterations.

The Heritage and Stewardship Team’s relationship is with the current homeowner or tenant and as such we are unable to provide detailed advice to a potential purchaser. The Design Principles explain in detail the aims of HAS to preserve the appearance and amenity of the Garden City as well as providing details on all external changes that you may be thinking of carrying out.

Further advice on working from home and business licenses can be found in our Working From Home Guidance on our Forms and Guides page.

Felling a tree will require our Consent. You can apply via our Online Application Portal or please fill out the Tree or Hedge Removal application form, which can be found here.

As a Garden City, it is very important to maintain the rural idyll. Unless there are special circumstances, the Heritage Foundation do not support the loss of healthy trees.

In the majority of cases where a tree is removed, we do require a replacement to ensure that the green credentials of the Garden City are maintained.

Our relationship is with the homeowner and we can only accept applications where the homeowner has applied or their consent has been given for the application.

Hertfordshire Highways are the governing body for dropped kerbs. However, they will require evidence of a Consent from us for works to your frontage - for example, your driveway - before they will allow a dropped kerb.

If you are within the Scheme of Management or have a restrictive lease, you will also require our Consent.

Any external alteration to your property or additional buildings on your property, or any works to the hardstanding or trees will also require our Consent.

The Heritage Foundation cannot mediate, assist or pronounce on boundary disputes.

The Heritage Foundation cannot mediate, assist or pronounce on boundary issues such as overhanging trees.

The Foundation cannot mediate, assist or pronounce on neighbour disputes in cases of CCTV and security lighting.

However, we appreciate the importance of resolving issues wherever possible, so please see the following links to other organisations that may be able to assist you:

• Report noise, smoke, or other nuisance – North Herts Council
• Guidance on domestic CCTV – GOV.UK

If you need further advice, these resources should provide helpful next steps.

As the impacts of climate change increasingly affect weather patterns, greater consideration should be given to a whole-house approach that supports both the heating and cooling needs of our buildings.

The installation of air conditioning units should be carefully planned to minimise their visual impact on the building and surrounding area. External condenser units should not be located on front elevations, nor in positions where they would be readily visible from the public realm or within the street scene. Preference should be given to discreet locations such as rear or side elevations, where these do not harm the character or appearance of the building. Any unit must be sited a minimum distance of 1 metre from any boundary. Where it is not possible to achieve a 1m setback from the boundary, applicants should seek guidance from HAS.

Care should also be taken in the design and routing of associated services, including external pipework, cabling and trunking. These should be kept to a minimum, grouped where possible, and routed discreetly to avoid creating visually intrusive or overly complex arrangements that contribute to unnecessary clutter on building elevations. The use of colours and finishes that blend with the host building is encouraged to reduce visual prominence.

When considering air conditioning, please also seek advice from North Herts Council on any requirements for Planning Permission.