When is a schedule useful or required?
For new housing and relevant conversions, the council needs to understand what accommodation is proposed and whether the applicable design requirements are met. London Plan policy D6 addresses housing quality and standards, including internal space and storage. Local validation requirements determine how the information should be presented. [2] [3]
A schedule can bring the evidence together, but the drawings must still demonstrate a workable layout. Treat the schedule and plans as parts of the same submission, not alternative ways to describe different versions of the scheme.
What should be included?
Ask the designer to identify each home consistently, then record the relevant information for that unit. A useful schedule can include its floor, bedrooms, intended occupants, number of storeys, gross internal area, storage and private outdoor space where required. The national space standard distinguishes homes by occupancy and storeys, not just the label “one-bedroom” or “two-bedroom”. [1] [2]
Where accessibility categories, tenure or another housing-policy requirement apply, include a clear cross-reference to the relevant evidence. Do not mix measurements based on different conventions without explaining the difference.
What is the Nationally Described Space Standard?
The NDSS is a planning standard, not a building regulation. It sets requirements for the space within new dwellings, including gross internal floor area and relevant room, storage and ceiling-height provisions. Its official guidance explains the measurement approach and the relationship between occupancy and the applicable requirements. [1]
Confirm which planning policies apply the standard to the proposal. A schedule should identify that basis and show the actual measured provision rather than just record “NDSS compliant”. Where an existing building creates a particular constraint, explain the relevant policy assessment instead of silently using a different measuring convention.
Who prepares it?
The architect or designer should prepare the schedule from the coordinated plans. Ask a planning consultant to check policy questions where needed, and require the schedule to be updated whenever the layout or housing mix changes.
Use the same unit references in daylight, overheating, accessibility and other assessments. That makes it possible to check whether the report for a particular home actually describes the version being submitted.
Do not use withdrawn London guidance as a current rule
March 2026 housing-support guidance withdrew specified supplementary housing-design standards, including the standard on the number of homes per core and the dual-aspect standard. This should not be treated as withdrawal of all housing quality or space requirements in policy D6. Identify the current policy and guidance relevant to each part of the schedule. [4] [2]
The draft new London Plan remains under consultation until 15 October 2026. Keep emerging requirements separate and review the schedule when the policy basis or the proposed design changes. [5]