Kingston upon Thames in South West London includes Kingston town, Surbiton, and Tolworth. About 17.1% of the borough is Green Belt, shaping suburban development and protecting open spaces. Known for historic market streets and riverside areas, planning focuses on residential and commercial schemes.
In the last year Kingston upon Thames decided 1,151 applications which is just above the national average of 988. The approval rate was 75% (slightly below the national average of 88%) and 88% of applications were decided on time, (significantly above the national average of 59%). Stats updated March 2026 from gov. sources. See how Kingston upon Thames performs relative to other LPAs in our LPA hub.
17.1% of Kingston upon Thames is within the Green Belt and proposals in these areas can be subject to very high levels of scrutiny.
Development within the Green Belt surrounding London is highly sensitive and politically contentious. The Green Belt around Kingston upon Thames preserves open countryside, parkland, and village buffers near Surbiton and New Malden, under pressure from suburban growth.
In our experience, one of the top reasons poorly conceived Green Belt proposals are refused is causing 'harm to openness'. We can lower the risk of refusal with site-specific guidance. Contact us here.
You can also check whether your land is within the Green Belt using our interactive Green Belt map.
Alongside acting as Planning Consultants we are ARB registered architects with 25+ years of experience. We advise on and prepare planning applications across a range of development types, including:
Thoughtful, well-considered design is often the key to securing Planning Permission, particularly on sites where others struggle to find a way forward. Let’s discuss your project.
Kingston upon Thames in South West London includes Kingston town, Surbiton, and Tolworth. About 17.1% of the borough is Green Belt, shaping suburban development and protecting open spaces. Known for historic market streets and riverside areas, planning focuses on residential and commercial schemes.
In the last year Kingston upon Thames decided 1,151 applications which is just above the national average of 988. The approval rate was 75% (slightly below the national average of 88%) and 88% of applications were decided on time, (significantly above the national average of 59%). Stats updated March 2026 from gov. sources. See how Kingston upon Thames performs relative to other LPAs in our LPA hub.
17.1% of Kingston upon Thames is within the Green Belt and proposals in these areas can be subject to very high levels of scrutiny.
Development within the Green Belt surrounding London is highly sensitive and politically contentious. The Green Belt around Kingston upon Thames preserves open countryside, parkland, and village buffers near Surbiton and New Malden, under pressure from suburban growth.
In our experience, one of the top reasons poorly conceived Green Belt proposals are refused is causing 'harm to openness'. We can lower the risk of refusal with site-specific guidance. Contact us here.
You can also check whether your land is within the Green Belt using our interactive Green Belt map.
Alongside acting as Planning Consultants we are ARB registered architects with 25+ years of experience. We advise on and prepare planning applications across a range of development types, including:
Thoughtful, well-considered design is often the key to securing Planning Permission, particularly on sites where others struggle to find a way forward. Let’s discuss your project.
