About the The Tower Conservation Area
The The Tower Conservation Area covers about 41 hectares within London Borough of Tower Hamlets’s area. Inside the boundary are 42 listed buildings (9 Grade I, 4 Grade II*, 29 Grade II). The most significant is Chapel of St Peter Ad Vincula, Grade I. 5 Article 4 directions over the area remove further householder rights, on top of the conservation area limits below. 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
- 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.
- Chapel of St Peter Ad VinculaGrade I
- Outer Curtain Wall With Casements and Mural TowersGrade I
- Portion of Old London WallGrade I
- The Merchant Navy Memorial, First World War sectionGrade I
- The Middle Tower, With Causeway to Byward Tower (qv) and Remains of Causeway to Lion Tower to WestGrade I
- The White TowerGrade I
- Tower Bridge (that Part in London Borough of Tower Hamlets)Grade I
- Tower Bridge ApproachGrade I
- Tower of London (Inner curtain wall with mural towers, the New Armouries, the King's House and Tower Green)Grade I
- Revetment Wall to South Side of Moat, From Tower Bridge Approach to Middle Tower (qv)Grade II*
- The Merchant Navy Memorial, Second World War sectionGrade II*
- The Old Hospital Block and Raised Terrace and RailingsGrade II*
- The Royal MintGrade II*
- 41, Trinity Square and area railingsGrade II
- 43, Trinity Square and area railingsGrade II
- 8 Bollards (on Pavement Outside Main Entrance to Tower of London)Grade II
- 8-10, Tower HillGrade II
- Alderman Stairs and gate piersGrade II
- Boundary Wall and Gate Piers to St Katharine's DockGrade II
- British and Foreign Wharves G WarehouseGrade II
- Cast Iron Lamp Standards in Forecourt of the Royal MintGrade II
- Dockmaster's OfficeGrade II
- Entrance Lodges at the Royal MintGrade II
- Footbridge (between the Basin and East Dock Water Areas)Grade II
Show all 42 listed buildings ↓All 42 listed buildings
- Former Pump HouseGrade II
- Gatehouses to Principal EntranceGrade II
- Group of 12 Bollards at Entrance Lock to St Katherine's DocksGrade II
- Group of 3 Bollards at Lock Between Basin and East Dock, St Katherine's DocksGrade II
- Group of 3 Bollards at Lock Between West Dock and Basin St Katherine's DockGrade II
- K6 Telephone Kiosk Outside Gateway of Byward TowerGrade II
- Museum of the Royal Fusiliers and Attached Terrace to FrontGrade II
- Principal Entrance Office BlocksGrade II
- Quay Walls to Basin and East and West Docks St Katherine's DockGrade II
- Revetment Wall to North Side of Moat, From Tower Hill Postern to Tower Bridge ApproachGrade II
- Revetment Wall to West and North Side of Moat, From Outwork Attached to Middle Tower (qv) to Tower Hill PosternGrade II
- Seamans RegistryGrade II
- St Katherine's Dock (warehouse C)Grade II
- Surviving Boundary Walls to the Former London Docks (western Dock), At Thomas More Street, East Smithfield, Redmead Lane, Pennington Street, Wapping Lane, Reardon Street and Tench Street. With Gate Piers at South End of Hermitage Basin, And Wall to South-East of Hermitage Basin, Gate Piers and Attached Wall at North-East End of Pier Head, And Boundary Wall to North and West of St John’s Churchyard.Grade II
- Timepiece SculptureGrade II
- Warehouse IGrade II
- Waterloo BlockGrade II
- Wine Cellars at Premises of Messers Asher StoreyGrade II
Nearby conservation areas
Boundary and listed buildings from London Borough of Tower Hamlets and Historic England via planning.data.gov.uk (OGL). Guidance only — not an official council check.