About the Tower Bridge Conservation Area
The Tower Bridge Conservation Area covers about 14 hectares and was designated by London Borough of Southwark in 1978. Inside the boundary are 16 listed buildings (1 Grade I, 15 Grade II). The most significant is Tower Bridge (that Part That Lies Within the Borough of Southwark), Grade I. 10 Article 4 directions over the area remove further householder rights, on top of the conservation area limits below. 7 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.
- London Bridge District Town CentreHouseholder works
- Central Activities ZoneHouseholder works
- Central Activities ZoneHouseholder works
- London Bridge District Town CentreHouseholder works
- Pommeler's RestHouseholder works
- THE BRIDGE HOUSEHouseholder works
- Anchor TapHouseholder works
- Draft HouseHouseholder works
- Dean SwiftHouseholder works
- Central Activities ZoneHouseholder 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.
- Tower Bridge (that Part That Lies Within the Borough of Southwark)Grade I
- Accumulator Tower and Chimney Stack to East Side of Tower Bridge ApproachGrade II
- Anise WarehouseGrade II
- Butlers Grinders and Operators WarehouseGrade II
- Butlers Wharf Building Butlers Wharf WestGrade II
- Eagle WharfGrade II
- Former London and County BankGrade II
- Former Tower Bridge Magistrates' Court and Police Station and attached railingsGrade II
- Horseley Down Old Stairs and HardGrade II
- South London CollegeGrade II
- Statue on Island Site in Front of South London College and RailingsGrade II
- The Anchor Tap Public HouseGrade II
- The Cardamon BuildingGrade II
- Three BollardsGrade II
- Tower Bridge Bridgemasters House (bridge House Estate) and Gate to SideGrade II
- Wheat WharfGrade II
The council’s appraisal
WEBTower Bridge Conservation Area AppraisalLondon Borough of Southwark’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 Southwark and Historic England via planning.data.gov.uk (OGL). Guidance only — not an official council check.