About the Whitefriars Conservation Area
The Whitefriars Conservation Area covers about 9.2 hectares and was designated by City of London Corporation in 2013. Inside the boundary are 20 listed buildings (1 Grade II*, 19 Grade II). The most significant is Former offices of the Bridewell Hospital, Grade II*. 5 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
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.
- Former offices of the Bridewell HospitalGrade II*
- 13, NEW BRIDGE STREET EC4 (See details for further address information)Grade II
- 15, New Bridge Street Ec4Grade II
- 24, Tudor StreetGrade II
- 9, Carmelite Street Ec4Grade II
- Blackfriars BridgeGrade II
- Blackfriars HouseGrade II
- Carmelite HouseGrade II
- Drinking Fountain on East Side of Road at North End of BridgeGrade II
- Embankment Wall With Cast Iron Lamp StandardsGrade II
- Former Argus Printing CompanyGrade II
- Former Guildhall School of MusicGrade II
- Hamilton HouseGrade II
- K2 Telephone KioskGrade II
- Main block of City of London School (Main front block only)Grade II
- Northcliffe HouseGrade II
- Sion College and Attached RailingsGrade II
- Statue of Queen Victoria at Approach to Blackfriars BridgeGrade II
- Telephone HouseGrade II
- Unilever HouseGrade II
The council’s appraisal
WEBWhitefriars 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.