About the Royal Hospital Conservation Area
The Royal Hospital Conservation Area covers about 55 hectares and was designated by Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in 1969. Inside the boundary are 86 listed buildings (3 Grade I, 11 Grade II*, 72 Grade II). The most significant is Statue of Charles II in Centre of Middle Courtyard in Main Buildings, Royal Hospital, Grade I. 6 Article 4 directions over the area remove further householder rights, on top of the conservation area limits below. 5 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.
ProjectElsewhereIn Royal Hospital CA
- 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 29Householder works
- Article 4 - No 19Householder works
- Article 4 - No 66Householder works
- Article 4 - No 100Householder works
- Article 4 - No 106Householder 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.
- Statue of Charles II in Centre of Middle Courtyard in Main Buildings, Royal HospitalGrade I
- The Royal Hospital Entrance Gates and Lodges (on North West Side of Burton's Court) Fronting St Leonard's TerraceGrade I
- The Royal Hospital Main Hospital Buildings Seven Three Storey Connected BlocksGrade I
- 44, Tite Street Sw3Grade II*
- Building to Centre of South West Side of College Court, Royal HospitalGrade II*
- Building to South of Range West of Chelsea Gate Roadway Royal HospitalGrade II*
- Chapel to Duke of York's HeadquartersGrade II*
- Duke of York's HeadquartersGrade II*
- Garden CornerGrade II*
- Lodge Immediately South of Stable Yard, Royal HospitalGrade II*
- Old Vestry Hall (part of Chelsea Town Hall)Grade II*
- Stable Yard, To West of Chelsea Gate Roadway, Royal HospitalGrade II*
- Swan HouseGrade II*
- The Royal Hospital North East RangeGrade II*
- 1 Chelsea Embankment (Shelley House) with associated railingsGrade II
- 1-13, Cheltenham Terrace Sw3Grade II
- 1-35, Wellington Square Sw3Grade II
- 1-6, St Leonard's Terrace Sw3Grade II
- 10-24, Royal Avenue Sw3Grade II
- 14-18, St Leonard's Terrace Sw3Grade II
- 14, Chelsea Embankment Sw3Grade II
- 15, Chelsea Embankment Sw3Grade II
- 16, Chelsea Embankment Sw3Grade II
- 17-43, Royal Avenue Sw3Grade II
Show all 86 listed buildings ↓All 86 listed buildings
- 19-25, St Leonard's Terrace Sw3Grade II
- 2 Chelsea Embankment (Dawliffe Hall) and associated railingsGrade II
- 2-8, Royal Avenue Sw3Grade II
- 2, 2a, 3, 4 and 5, Smith Street Sw3Grade II
- 22, Smith Street Sw3Grade II
- 24, Smith Street Sw3Grade II
- 26 and 28, Christchurch Street Sw3Grade II
- 26-30, St Leonard's Terrace Sw3Grade II
- 26-48, Royal Avenue Sw3Grade II
- 30-52, Christchurch Street Sw3Grade II
- 31 and 32, St Leonard's Terrace Sw3Grade II
- 31, Tite Street Sw3Grade II
- 33, Tite Street Sw3Grade II
- 34, Tite Street Sw3Grade II
- 4,5 and 6, Chelsea Embankment Sw3Grade II
- 45, Smith Street Sw3Grade II
- 46-50, Smith Street Sw3Grade II
- 55-59, King's Road Sw3Grade II
- 60-76, Christchurch Street Sw3Grade II
- 61-65, King's Road Sw3Grade II
- 7-13, St Leonard's Terrace Sw3Grade II
- 7, Chelsea Embankment Sw3Grade II
- 9-37, Shawfield Street Sw3Grade II
- 9,10 and 11, Chelsea Embankment Sw3Grade II
- Cavalry House, Duke of Yorks HeadquartersGrade II
- Chelsea Town HallGrade II
- Cheyne House Little Cheyne HouseGrade II
- Christ ChurchGrade II
- Entrance Gates on Main Axis From Chelsea Embankment Royal HospitalGrade II
- Former Motorcar GarageGrade II
- Former Temperance Billiard HallGrade II
- Former Welsh Congregational ChurchGrade II
- Gates and Railings to London Gate and Chelsea Gate at the Royal HospitalGrade II
- Gordon House (hospital Quarters), Royal HospitalGrade II
- Lodge at Creek Gate, Royal HospitalGrade II
- Lodge to Chelsea Gate, Royal HospitalGrade II
- Lodge to London Gate, Royal HospitalGrade II
- Lodge to South of Centre Block to South West Side of College Court, Royal HospitalGrade II
- Marble Statue of Sir Hans Sloane in Grounds of Physic GardenGrade II
- Memorial Obelisk, Royal HospitalGrade II
- More HouseGrade II
- NatWest BankGrade II
- Number 1 and Forecourt RailingsGrade II
- Number 2 and Forecourt RailingsGrade II
- Number 3 and Forecourt RailingsGrade II
- Number 4 and Forecourt RailingsGrade II
- Pair of Gatepiers to East of Lodge at Creek Gate, Royal HospitalGrade II
- Pair of Gatepiers to Gordon Lodge, Royal HospitalGrade II
- Pair of Gatepiers to South East of Main Buildings, Royal HospitalGrade II
- Pair of Gatepiers to South West of Main Buildings, Royal HospitalGrade II
- Pillar Box Pillar Box on Corner With Smith StreetGrade II
- Public BathsGrade II
- Railings to South of Burton's Court, Royal HospitalGrade II
- Rockery to Centre of Chelsea Physic Garden, In North Eastern SegmentGrade II
- Rossetti StudiosGrade II
- Second Lodge to South of Stable Yard, Royal HospitalGrade II
- The Clock HouseGrade II
- The Physic Garden, Gate Piers and GatesGrade II
- The River HouseGrade II
- Tower HouseGrade II
- Wellhead in North Eastern Courtyard of the Royal HospitalGrade II
- Wellhead in South Western Courtyard of the Royal HospitalGrade II
The council’s appraisal
WEBRoyal Hospital 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.