About the Temples Conservation Area
The Temples Conservation Area covers about 9.3 hectares and was designated by City of London Corporation in 2007. Inside the boundary are 51 listed buildings (16 Grade I, 8 Grade II*, 27 Grade II). The most significant is 1 King's Bench Walk, Grade I. 6 Article 4 directions over the area remove further householder rights, on top of the conservation area limits below. Part of the area lies in flood zone 3, so an extension may need a flood risk assessment.
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.
- Bankside and Borough District Town CentreHouseholder works
- Central Activities ZoneHouseholder works
- Central Activities ZoneHouseholder works
- Bankside and Borough District Town CentreHouseholder works
- Central Activities ZoneHouseholder works
- Article 4 Basement Development Permitted Rights RemovedHouseholder 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.
- 1 King's Bench WalkGrade I
- 1, Essex Court Ec4Grade I
- 1, Hare Court Ec4Grade I
- 2 and 3, Essex Court Ec4Grade I
- 2 King's Bench WalkGrade I
- 3, King's Bench WalkGrade I
- 4-6, Pump Court Ec4Grade I
- 4, King's Bench WalkGrade I
- 5 King's Bench WalkGrade I
- 6 King's Bench WalkGrade I
- 7 King's Bench WalkGrade I
- Chambers on West Side of New CourtGrade I
- Gateway From Devereux CourtGrade I
- Middle Temple GatehouseGrade I
- Middle Temple HallGrade I
- Temple Church (st Mary's)Grade I
- 2, Middle Temple Lane Ec4Grade II*
- 3 King's Bench Walk NorthGrade II*
- 3, Middle Temple Lane Ec4Grade II*
- 4, Essex Court Ec4Grade II*
- 8 King's Bench WalkGrade II*
- Buttery at Inner Temple HallGrade II*
- Rear Wing of Middle Temple GatehouseGrade II*
- The National Submariners' War Memorial, attached to the Embankment WallGrade II*
Show all 51 listed buildings ↓All 51 listed buildings
- 1 and 2, Garden Court Ec4Grade II
- 1 and 2, Mitre Court Buildings Ec4Grade II
- 1 Brick CourtGrade II
- 1-4, Paper BuildingsGrade II
- 12 and 13 King's Bench WalkGrade II
- 2 and 3 Hare CourtGrade II
- 2 Lamp Standards Outside Inner Temple HallGrade II
- 4 Lamp Standards at North EndGrade II
- 5, Paper BuildingsGrade II
- 9, 10 and 11 King's Bench WalkGrade II
- Doctor Johnson's BuildingsGrade II
- Five Gate Piers to Inner Temple GardenGrade II
- Five Seats on Riverside Pavement Opposite Temple GardensGrade II
- Fountain BasinGrade II
- Four Gate Piers to Middle Temple Lane Gate Piers to Middle Temple LaneGrade II
- Gates With Gate Piers and StepsGrade II
- Goldsmith BuildingGrade II
- K2 Telephone Kiosk by Submarine MemorialGrade II
- Lamp StandardGrade II
- Lamp Standard Opposite 7 King's Bench WalkGrade II
- Lodge at Entrance to Middle Temple Lane Lodge to Gateway From Victoria EmbankmentGrade II
- Pair of dragons on pedestals at City boundaryGrade II
- Pair of Lamp StandardsGrade II
- Police Public Callbox 10 Metres East of War MemorialGrade II
- Statue of John Hiccocks Against Rear Wall of Numbers 30 to 32 Fleet StreetGrade II
- Temple GardensGrade II
- The Masters HouseGrade II
Streets in the conservation area
Streets with listed buildings inside the boundary. Boundaries often split a street — check your exact address.
The council’s appraisal
WEBTemples Conservation Area AppraisalCity of London Corporation’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 City of London Corporation and Historic England via planning.data.gov.uk (OGL). Guidance only — not an official council check.