How do I get Planning Permission in a Conservation Area? : 4 Top tips

There are many reasons to purchase a property in a Conservation Area, such as the character of properties in the area – with their historic details and craftsmanship; and the cohesive atmosphere of the Conservation Area itself. Even though you might be the proud owner of such a property, you might have found that, should you wish to make improvements to your home, the process of putting together a Planning Application in a Conservation Area can be daunting.

Figure 1: Image of a Georgian property in the Camberwell Grove Conservation Area, in Southwark Council where we have just secured Planning Permission to extend and refurbish this building. Source: 4 S Architecture.

At 4 S Architecture, we are experts in transforming existing buildings in Conservation Areas into inspiring homes and have a proven track record of successful planning approvals in historic settings across numerous London boroughs and the UK. We recently secured Planning Permission to extend and refurbish a building in the Camberwell Grove Conservation Area in Southwark Council (see Figure 1). The proposed works include re-instating the plaster on the front elevation with breathable, insulating lime plaster.

Drawing on our wealth of experience, we thought we would share our 4 Top Tips for successfully securing Planning Permission in a Conservation Area:

1/ Read the local planning policy guidelines…

…to understand what your council is looking for in a development proposal and – equally importantly – what they don’t like. Most councils have good illustrated guides available online. When browsing these documents, ensure that you are reading the latest, currently adopted guidelines. It is also worth researching any draft legislation which may be coming into effect or is currently being implemented – you should be able to find this in the council website.

While you are researching the planning policy, make sure to find out what has been built and approved in your Conservation Area, and in particular in your immediate vicinity. You will be able to see all past Planning Applications in your postcode on the council website. If you find that a neighbour has secured Planning Permission for a large scheme, note that this does not mean you will automatically receive permission too for a similar scheme. Policy guidelines can change, and the opinion of the case officer is often subjective. Nevertheless, an understanding of what has previously been approved in your area can give you an indication as to what may be acceptable in terms of materials used and the scale of development.

Figure 2: Planning permission was granted for our Eucalyptus House in the Brixton Conservation Area in Lambeth Council. Source: 4 S Architecture.

2/ Appoint an architect experienced in working with existing buildings and in Conservation Areas…

…such as 4 S Architecture. Having an experienced architect on board can make the world of difference. They can help to develop a scheme that is sensitive to the historic context in terms of its form, materials and architectural language, and that is subservient to the host building. At 4 S Architecture our designs draw inspiration from your existing property, as well as the general character of the Conservation Area and neighbouring buildings; but that inspiration is typically re-interpreted in a contemporary way. This is shown in the image above of our approved proposal for an extension in the Brixton Conservation Area, on Southwark Council where the roof pitch echoes that of the existing house while the bricks pick up on the tone of the existing London Stock bricks used on the existing house but are lighter so as to speak a new more contemporary language. At 4 S Architecture, we avoid copying historic details, as this can result in a cheap-looking ‘pastiche’ when using contemporary construction techniques.

This approach is reiterated in Lewisham’s Local Plan document Alterations and Extensions Supplementary Planning Document (adopted April 2019) which states:

Once your outline brief has been created, it is strongly advised that you employ a registered architect to further develop the brief, design and draw up your proposal; and oversee the works. They should be able to design your proposal in order to respond to any identified constraints, and may be able to develop your initial ideas to provide a more creative proposal than you originally envisaged, saving you time, economising your budged and adding value to your property. They will also help to guide you through relevant, up-to-date legislation and regulations. (3.2.9)

3/ Write a heritage statement

Once you have appointed an experienced conservation architect, they can help you to write a heritage statement that describes:

a/ The statutory designation of your property (which may or may not be listed).

b/ The significance of the Conservation Area (for which you will need a general understanding of its history and key assets).

c/ What your proposals entail.

d/ What impact, if any, your proposals will make on the surrounding Conservation Area and any nearby listed buildings. It is important to also describe how you have sought to mitigate any harm that these proposed changes may cause.

A heritage statement need not be lengthy but does need to be submitted on all planning applications made in a Conservation Area, regardless of whether your property is a listed building.

4/ Be prepared to make adjustments to your proposal immediately…

…if any concerns are raised by the Conservation Officer. Having enlisted an architect for your project will mean they are ready for any changes that might be requested – taking a weight off your shoulders. They will help you to establish a dialogue with the case officer early on, if possible. This will be helpful in allowing you to get feedback ahead of your Application being finalised. All councils are extremely busy, with case officers dealing with great workloads – so it is wise not to expect an immediate response to emails. Always remember to be courteous and helpful, even if the process can seem frustrating at times.

Figure 3: We are currently working on a Planning Application in the Perry Fields Conservation Area (London Borough of Lewisham). Source: Google Maps.

At 4 S Architecture, we are experts at liaising effectively and efficiently with case officers in many boroughs, having secured permissions in Westminster, Southwark, Lambeth, Kingston, Barnet, Wanstead and Cambridgeshire. You can read our client testimonials by clicking on this link.

Please bear in mind that, due to increased case-loads and lack of funding, many councils are now charging a fee to review changes made within the application process. They will also usually request an extension of time to the 8-week statutory review period if changes are made to cover the extra review time required. Some councils are now even refusing to consider changes within the application period altogether – for example, Southwark Council is now advising that they will not be accepting changes to proposals for submissions made after April 1st, 2023, as per the excerpt we have included below:

Please note that the Council provides a paid-for pre-application advice service to minimise the number of amendments submitted after submission. Making amendments to applications places a burden on the case officer and service in general, mainly through additional assessment and re-consultation where it might be required. The acceptance of any amendments to live applications is entirely at the discretion of the Council and is not required by the law / legislation.

If your scheme is potentially contentious, submit and pay for pre-application advice. Even though this can extend the planning process, it means that, should your changes be considered ‘material’ (ie. significant) by the case officer, you might have to submit a new application in any case – so pre-application advice can be well worth it! Note that pre-application advice is not legally binding and a different case officer reviewing your application may have different opinions. That said, pre-application advice demonstrates to the case officers that you care about the neighbourhood and the Conservation Area.

If all this sounds like too much, and you have a full house refurbishment and extension project in mind, you are in the perfect place! Get in touch with us here and we can help transform your period property in a conservation area into your dream forever home.