About the Vincent Square Conservation Area
The Vincent Square Conservation Area covers about 11 hectares and was designated by City of Westminster in 2010. Inside the boundary are 14 listed buildings (2 Grade II*, 12 Grade II). The most significant is Church of St Stephen, Grade II*. 1 Article 4 direction over the area removes further householder rights, on top of the conservation area limits below. 3 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.
- 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.
- Church of St StephenGrade II*
- WESTMINSTER COLLEGE (1950s BUILDING)Grade II*
- 3 and 4, Vincent Square Sw1Grade II
- 7 and 8, Vincent Square Sw1Grade II
- 84 and 85, Vincent Square Sw1Grade II
- 86, VINCENT SQUARE SW1 (See details for further address information)Grade II
- Former Magistrates CourtGrade II
- Lamp post outside 15 Maunsel StreetGrade II
- Lamp post outside 26 Maunsel StreetGrade II
- Lamp post outside Astral House, Maunsel StreetGrade II
- Pair of K6 Telephone Kiosks Outside Number 42 and United Westminster AlmshousesGrade II
- Police StationGrade II
- Royal Horticultural Society Old HallGrade II
- United Westminster AlmshousesGrade II
The council’s appraisal
WEBVincent 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.