About the Pitfield Street Conservation Area
The Pitfield Street Conservation Area covers about 5.2 hectares and was designated by London Borough of Hackney in 2021. Inside the boundary are 13 listed buildings (1 Grade II*, 12 Grade II). The most significant is Church of St John the Baptist, Grade II*. 4 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.
- 20B Pitfield StreetHouseholder works
- 20B Pitfield Street (launderette)Change of use
- A4D Non-residential to residentialChange of use
- A4D Non-residential to residentialChange of use
- Hackney Central Activity ZoneHouseholder works
- London borough of HackneyHouseholder works
- Tech City (CAZ North)Householder 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 John the BaptistGrade II*
- 17-21, Pitfield Street N1Grade II
- 31-41, New North Road N1Grade II
- 53, New North Road N1Grade II
- 8 and 10, Pitfield Street N1Grade II
- Forecourt Walls Railings and Gates to Numbers 31 to 41 (odd)Grade II
- Front Wall and Piers to London College of FurnitureGrade II
- Horse and cattle drinking troughGrade II
- Lampholders and Arch Outside Number 55 (the Sturt Arms)Grade II
- London College of FurnitureGrade II
- Passmore Edwards Free LibraryGrade II
- Railings and Gates to Churchyard of St John the BaptistGrade II
- Stables and Carriageway Entrance Building at the Former LGOC Pitfield Street DepotGrade II
The council’s appraisal
WEBPitfield Street Conservation Area AppraisalLondon Borough of Hackney’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 Hackney and Historic England via planning.data.gov.uk (OGL). Guidance only — not an official council check.