About the South Hampstead Conservation Area
The South Hampstead Conservation Area covers about 59 hectares and was designated by London Borough of Camden in 1988. Inside the boundary are 2 listed buildings, all Grade II. 3 Article 4 directions over the area remove further householder rights, on top of the conservation area limits below.
What changes inside the conservation area
Conservation areas are “Article 2(3) land”. You keep most permitted development rights, but these are removed or tightened.
- Rear extensionElsewhere: 3 m · 6 m with PANo 6 m / 8 m prior approval
- Two-storey extensionElsewhere: 3 mNeeds planning permission
- Side extensionElsewhere: Half the widthNeeds planning permission
- Loft conversionElsewhere: 50 m³Needs planning permission
- Garden roomElsewhere: 2.5 m high by boundariesNot beside the house
- PorchElsewhere: 3 m²Same limits
- Solar panelsElsewhere: 0.2 m projectionSame limits
- Air source heat pumpElsewhere: 1 unitNot facing the road
- Fences, walls and gatesElsewhere: 2 m · 1 m by a roadSame limits
- External claddingElsewhere: Matching materialsNeeds planning permission
- Tree workElsewhere: No notice6 weeks’ notice to the council
- Demolition (over 115 m³)Elsewhere: AllowedNeeds planning permission
Limits for a semi-detached house under the GPDO 2015. An Article 4 direction can remove more.
Article 4 directions here
These overlap the conservation area. Householder directions remove more of the rights above; change-of-use ones don’t affect extending a house.
- Swiss Cottage Conservation Area (various properties)Householder works
- Commercial, Business, and Service (Use Class E) to residential (Use Class C3) (outside CAZ)Change of use
- BasementsHouseholder works
- South Hampstead Conservation Area Non-immediate Article 4Householder works
Listed buildings in the conservation area
Any work affecting these needs listed building consent, inside or out. Each links to its entry on the National Heritage List.
- Church of St JamesGrade II
- Lilian Baylis House (former Decca recording studios), including walls to Broadhurst GardensGrade II
The council’s appraisal
WEBSouth Hampstead Conservation Area AppraisalLondon Borough of Camden’s description of the area’s character — what planners look at when you apply.Open on council site ↗Nearby conservation areas
Boundary and listed buildings from London Borough of Camden and Historic England via planning.data.gov.uk (OGL). Guidance only — not an official council check.