About the Adelphi Conservation Area
The Adelphi Conservation Area covers about 2.1 hectares and was designated by City of Westminster in 1981. Inside the boundary are 26 listed buildings (3 Grade I, 17 Grade II*, 6 Grade II). The most significant is 12, Buckingham Street Wc2, Grade I. 1 Article 4 direction over the area removes 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.
- Article 4 Basement Development Permitted Rights RemovedHouseholder works
- Article 4 Direction Class E To C3 In Central Activities ZoneChange of use
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.
- 12, Buckingham Street Wc2Grade I
- The Royal Society of ArtsGrade I
- York Water GateGrade I
- 1 and 2, Robert StreetGrade II*
- 10, Buckingham Street Wc2Grade II*
- 11, Buckingham Street Wc2Grade II*
- 13, Buckingham Street Wc2Grade II*
- 14, Buckingham Street Wc2Grade II*
- 17, Buckingham Street Wc2Grade II*
- 18, Adam Street Wc2Grade II*
- 18, Buckingham Street Wc2Grade II*
- 19, Buckingham Street Wc2Grade II*
- 2, John Adam Street Wc2Grade II*
- 20, Buckingham Street Wc2Grade II*
- 21, Buckingham Street Wc2Grade II*
- 3, Robert Street Wc2Grade II*
- 4 and 6, John Adam StreetGrade II*
- 6-10, Adam Street Wc2Grade II*
- 8, Buckingham Street Wc2Grade II*
- 9, Buckingham Street Wc2Grade II*
- 21, John Adam Street Wc2Grade II
- 22, Buckingham Street Wc2Grade II
- 27 and 29, John Adam Street Wc2Grade II
- 6 and 7, York Buildings Wc2Grade II
Show all 26 listed buildings ↓All 26 listed buildings
Streets in the conservation area
Streets with listed buildings inside the boundary. Boundaries often split a street — check your exact address.
The council’s appraisal
WEBAdelphi Conservation Area AppraisalCity of Westminster’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 City of Westminster and Historic England via planning.data.gov.uk (OGL). Guidance only — not an official council check.