About the Waltham Abbey Conservation Area
The Waltham Abbey Conservation Area covers about 36 hectares and was designated by Epping Forest District Council in 1969. Inside the boundary are 47 listed buildings (1 Grade I, 7 Grade II*, 39 Grade II). The most significant is Church of the Holy Cross and St Lawrence Ruins to East of Church of Holy Cross and St Lawrence, Grade I. 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.
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 the Holy Cross and St Lawrence Ruins to East of Church of Holy Cross and St LawrenceGrade I
- 1, Sun StreetGrade II*
- 31, Highbridge StreetGrade II*
- 41, Sun StreetGrade II*
- Abbey GatewayGrade II*
- Essex HouseGrade II*
- Midnight ChapelGrade II*
- Waltham Abbey VicarageGrade II*
- 14, Highbridge StreetGrade II
- 14, Sun StreetGrade II
- 15, Sewardstone RoadGrade II
- 16, Highbridge StreetGrade II
- 16, Sewardstone RoadGrade II
- 16, Sun StreetGrade II
- 18 18a, Sun StreetGrade II
- 19, Sun StreetGrade II
- 2 3, South PlaceGrade II
- 2, Church StreetGrade II
- 20, Market SquareGrade II
- 23, Highbridge StreetGrade II
- 24, Sun StreetGrade II
- 24a 26, Sun StreetGrade II
- 25, Market SquareGrade II
- 3 3a 3b, Sun StreetGrade II
Show all 47 listed buildings ↓All 47 listed buildings
- 3 4, Church StreetGrade II
- 33, Sun StreetGrade II
- 34, Sun StreetGrade II
- 36, Highbridge StreetGrade II
- 36, Sun StreetGrade II
- 38, Highbridge StreetGrade II
- 39, Sun StreetGrade II
- 40 42, Highbridge StreetGrade II
- 44 44a, Sun StreetGrade II
- 44, Highbridge StreetGrade II
- 5, Sun StreetGrade II
- K6 Telephone Kiosk to North of Number 2Grade II
- Lychgate HouseGrade II
- The Crown Public HouseGrade II
- The Green Dragon Public HouseGrade II
- The Queens Arms Public HouseGrade II
- The Roman Catholic Church of Saint Thomas More and Saint EdwardGrade II
- The Sun InnGrade II
- The Welsh Harp Public HouseGrade II
- Thrift CottageGrade II
- Thrift HallGrade II
- Waltham Abbey Garden WallGrade II
- Waltham Abbey Walls, Including Chapter House WallGrade 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
WEBWaltham Abbey Conservation Area AppraisalEpping Forest District Council’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 Epping Forest District Council and Historic England via planning.data.gov.uk (OGL). Guidance only — not an official council check.