About the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Conservation Area
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Conservation Area covers about 136 hectares and was designated by London Borough of Richmond upon Thames in 1991. Inside the boundary are 34 listed buildings (6 Grade I, 5 Grade II*, 23 Grade II). The most significant is Kew Palace, 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.
- Kew PalaceGrade I
- Kew Palace FlatsGrade I
- OrangeryGrade I
- Temperate HouseGrade I
- The PagodaGrade I
- The Palm HouseGrade I
- Aroid House Number 1Grade II*
- Avenue LodgeGrade II*
- Marianne North Gallery, Royal Botanic Gardens, KewGrade II*
- Ruined Arch, Including Fragments of Masonry at the Base of the ArchGrade II*
- The Queen's CottageGrade II*
- 1 and 2, Kew CottagesGrade II
- AlcoveGrade II
- Alcove to North of Lion GateGrade II
- Boundary Stone, Royal Botanic Gardens KewGrade II
- CampanileGrade II
- Cumberland GateGrade II
- Discanso House Including Front Railings (kew Botanic Gardens)Grade II
- Evolution House at the Royal Botanic Gardens, KewGrade II
- IcehouseGrade II
- Isleworth Drawbridge and Ferry GateGrade II
- Japanese Gateway Chokushi-Mon or Gate of the Imperial MessengerGrade II
- King William's TempleGrade II
- Lion GateGrade II
Show all 34 listed buildings ↓All 34 listed buildings
- Museum Number 1Grade II
- Museum Number 2Grade II
- Retaining Wall of Pond in Front of Palm HouseGrade II
- Sundial to East of Kew PalaceGrade II
- Temple of AeolusGrade II
- Temple of ArethusaGrade II
- Temple of BellonaGrade II
- The SowerGrade II
- Urn in Flowerbed to North East of Palm HouseGrade II
- Water Lily HouseGrade II
The council’s appraisal
WEBRoyal Botanic Gardens, Kew Conservation Area AppraisalLondon Borough of Richmond upon Thames’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 Richmond upon Thames and Historic England via planning.data.gov.uk (OGL). Guidance only — not an official council check.