About the Trafalgar Square Conservation Area
The Trafalgar Square Conservation Area covers about 18 hectares and was designated by City of Westminster in 1993. Inside the boundary are 77 listed buildings (11 Grade I, 12 Grade II*, 54 Grade II). The most significant is 36, Craven 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.
ProjectElsewhereIn Trafalgar Square CA
- 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.
- 36, Craven Street Wc2Grade I
- Admiralty Arch, First Sea Lord's Residence and Offices, Balustrades and StepsGrade I
- Church of St Martin in the FieldsGrade I
- Churchyard Walls and Railings Surrounding Church of St Martin in the Fields on North, South, East and West SidesGrade I
- National GalleryGrade I
- National Portrait GalleryGrade I
- Sainsbury Wing at the National GalleryGrade I
- Statue of Charles IGrade I
- Statue of James II in Front of National Gallery West WingGrade I
- The Edith Cavell MemorialGrade I
- The Nelson Monument (Nelson's Column)Grade I
- 31, St Martin's Lane Wc2Grade II*
- 434-437, STRAND WC2 (See details for further address information)Grade II*
- Canada House (including the Former Royal College of Physicians)Grade II*
- Fountains and Terrace Walls With Lampstandards, Steps and Stone Bollards Enclosing the SquareGrade II*
- Harrington HouseGrade II*
- Queen Eleanor Memorial CrossGrade II*
- South Africa HouseGrade II*
- St Martin in the Fields Secondary SchoolGrade II*
- St Martin's Vestry HallGrade II*
- St Martin's VicarageGrade II*
- The Coliseum Theatre (english National Opera)Grade II*
- The Garrick TheatreGrade II*
- 1, Craven Passage Wc2Grade II
Show all 77 listed buildings ↓All 77 listed buildings
- 1, Great Scotland Yard Sw1Grade II
- 11 and 12, Craven Street Wc2Grade II
- 13 and 14, Craven Street Wc2Grade II
- 25-30, Craven Street Wc2Grade II
- 25, Whitehall Sw1Grade II
- 3-13, Whitcomb Street Wc2Grade II
- 3, Whitehall Sw1Grade II
- 31, Craven Street Wc2Grade II
- 32, Craven Street Wc2Grade II
- 33 and 34, Craven Street Wc2Grade II
- 35, Craven Street Wc2Grade II
- 37, Craven Street Wc2Grade II
- 38, Craven Street Wc2Grade II
- 39, Craven Street Wc2Grade II
- 40, Craven Street Wc2Grade II
- 41, Craven StreetGrade II
- 44, Chandos Place Wc2Grade II
- 45 and 46, Chandos Place Wc2Grade II
- 57-59, Trafalgar Square Wc2Grade II
- Cavell House National Westminster BankGrade II
- Charing Cross HotelGrade II
- Churchyard Wall and Railings Adjoining Entrance to Crypt, On North Side of Church of St Martin in the FieldsGrade II
- Drinking Fountain Attached to Church Walls and Railing to Church of St Martin-in-the-FieldsGrade II
- Duke of York's TheatreGrade II
- Former Charing Cross Hospital (east Side)Grade II
- Former United University ClubGrade II
- John Law Baker Memorial Drinking Fountain (st Martin in the Fields Churchyard)Grade II
- K2 Telephone KioskGrade II
- K6 Telephone KioskGrade II
- K6 Telephone KioskGrade II
- Lamp post outside Charing Cross Police StationGrade II
- Lampstandard Numbered 11 on Island at Head of Northumberland AvenueGrade II
- Lampstandard Numbered 7 on Island Adjacent to Charles I StatueGrade II
- Marquis of Granby Public HouseGrade II
- National Westminster BankGrade II
- Nigeria HouseGrade II
- Northumberland House (victoria Buildings)Grade II
- Oceanic HouseGrade II
- Old Shades Public HouseGrade II
- Pair of K6 Telephone kiosksGrade II
- Playhouse TheatreGrade II
- Royal Bank of Scotland Royal Bank of Scotland, Drummond's BankGrade II
- Ship and Shovel Public HouseGrade II
- Statue of General Sir Charles NapierGrade II
- Statue of General Sir Henry HavelockGrade II
- Statue of George IVGrade II
- Statue of George WashingtonGrade II
- Statue of Sir Henry IrvingGrade II
- Trafalgar BuildingsGrade II
- Ventilation Lamp Standard Numbered 35 on Island North of Irving StreetGrade II
- Western Corner Block of Former Charing Cross HospitalGrade II
- Whitehall HouseGrade II
- Whitehall TheatreGrade II
The council’s appraisal
WEBTrafalgar Square 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.