About the Union Street Conservation Area
The Union Street Conservation Area covers about 3.9 hectares and was designated by London Borough of Southwark in 2000. Inside the boundary are 12 listed buildings, all Grade II. 13 Article 4 directions over the area remove further householder rights, on top of the conservation area limits below. 9 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.
- Site allocation NSP07: Landmark CourtHouseholder works
- Bankside and Borough District Town CentreHouseholder works
- Central Activities ZoneHouseholder works
- Railway ArchesHouseholder works
- Central Activities ZoneHouseholder works
- Site allocation NSP05: London Fire and Emergency Planning AuthorityHouseholder works
- Site allocation NSP07: Landmark CourtHouseholder works
- Bankside and Borough District Town CentreHouseholder works
- Railway ArchesHouseholder works
- LORD CLYDEHouseholder works
- ROSE & CROWNHouseholder works
- Central Activities ZoneHouseholder works
- Site allocation NSP05: London Fire and Emergency Planning AuthorityHouseholder 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.
- 31-37, Union StreetGrade II
- 59 and 61, Union StreetGrade II
- 62 and 64, Union StreetGrade II
- Bishop's Hall and George Bell HouseGrade II
- BollardGrade II
- Lord Clyde Public HouseGrade II
- Mosaic Roundel at Octavia HouseGrade II
- Number 52 and Attached RailingsGrade II
- Redcross CottagesGrade II
- Roman Catholic Church of the Most Precious Blood, Presbytery, Forecourt Walls and ShrineGrade II
- The Borough Welsh Congregational ChapelGrade II
- Whitecross CottagesGrade II
The council’s appraisal
WEBUnion Street 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.