About the Philbeach Conservation Area
The Philbeach Conservation Area covers about 4.8 hectares and was designated by Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in 1993. Inside the boundary are 2 listed buildings (1 Grade I, 1 Grade II). The most significant is Church of St Cuthbert and St Matthias, Grade I. 3 Article 4 directions over the area remove further householder rights, on top of the conservation area limits below. 2 Tree Preservation Order records overlap the area; every other tree here still needs six weeks’ notice before work. 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.
- Article 4 - No 76Householder works
- Article 4 - No 100Householder works
- Article 4 - No 106Householder 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.
The council’s appraisal
WEBPhilbeach Conservation Area AppraisalRoyal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea’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 Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and Historic England via planning.data.gov.uk (OGL). Guidance only — not an official council check.