About the Whitehall Conservation Area
The Whitehall Conservation Area covers about 35 hectares and was designated by City of Westminster in 1987. Inside the boundary are 72 listed buildings (14 Grade I, 18 Grade II*, 40 Grade II). The most significant is 10, Downing Street Sw1, 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 Whitehall 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.
- 10, Downing Street Sw1Grade I
- 11, Downing Street Sw1Grade I
- Admiralty HouseGrade I
- Banqueting HouseGrade I
- Dover House Scottish OfficeGrade I
- Forecourt Railings, Gates and Guardhouses to HorseguardsGrade I
- Foreign and Commonwealth Office With Home Office the Foreign Office the Foreign Office (foreign and Commonwealth Office With Home Office)Grade I
- Former New Scotland Yard, Norman Shaw North BuildingGrade I
- Horse GuardsGrade I
- Ministry of Defence, Containing Sixteenth Century Undercroft and Historic Rooms Numbers 13, 24, 25, 27 and 79Grade I
- Queen Mary's Steps and Fragment of Whitehall PalaceGrade I
- The Admiralty and the Admiralty ScreenGrade I
- The CenotaphGrade I
- Treasury Buildings Treasury Buildings (cabinet Office and Privy Council Office)Grade I
- 43, Parliament Street Sw1Grade II*
- 44, Parliament Street Sw1Grade II*
- 47, Parliament Street Sw1Grade II*
- Cannon Row Police StationGrade II*
- Former New Scotland Yard, Norman Shaw South BuildingGrade II*
- Former Paymaster Generals Office Former Paymaster Generals Office (the Parliamentary Counsel)Grade II*
- Gates and Piers Between Norman Shaw North and South Buildings, Former New Scotland YardGrade II*
- Government Offices, Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food Government Offices, Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food West BlockGrade II*
- Gwydyr House (welsh Office)Grade II*
- New Government Offices (HM Treasury) and archway link with Foreign Office at east end of King Charles StreetGrade II*
Show all 72 listed buildings ↓All 72 listed buildings
- Richmond House, incorporating Nos. 1-8 Richmond TerraceGrade II*
- Royal United Services InstituteGrade II*
- Statue of Field Marshal Earl HaigGrade II*
- The National Liberal ClubGrade II*
- The Royal Air Force Memorial, Whitehall StairsGrade II*
- The Royal Naval Division War MemorialGrade II*
- War Office War Office (ministry of Defence)Grade II*
- Whitehall CourtGrade II*
- 12, Downing Street Sw1Grade II
- 34-36, PARLIAMENT STREET SW1 (See details for further address information)Grade II
- 37, Parliament Street Sw1Grade II
- 38 and 39, Parliament Street Sw1Grade II
- 4 Lamp Standards Numbered 1 to 4Grade II
- 41 and 42, Parliament Street Sw1Grade II
- 44 Lamp Standards Lining Road and Circus in Front of PalaceGrade II
- 45 and 46, Parliament Street Sw1Grade II
- 49 and 50, Parliament Street Sw1Grade II
- 53, Parliament Street Sw1Grade II
- 54 Parliament Street (former Grindlay's Bank)Grade II
- 85 WhitehallGrade II
- 9 Lampstandards Numbered 1 to 9 and 1 on Treasury Green Treasury Green LampstandardGrade II
- Balustrade with four lamp-standards in front of Richmond TerraceGrade II
- Boadicea (boudicca) Statuary GroupGrade II
- Cabmen's Shelter, Northumberland AvenueGrade II
- Cadiz MemorialGrade II
- Chindits MemorialGrade II
- Civil Service Department Offices (former Admiralty Offices)Grade II
- Gates and Piers to Entrance to Derby GateGrade II
- Lampstandard Opposite West End of Downing StreetGrade II
- Memorial to Sir J BazalgetteGrade II
- Plimsoll MemorialGrade II
- Red Lion Public HouseGrade II
- St Stephen's TavernGrade II
- Statue of Captain CookGrade II
- Statue of Clive on Steps at West EndGrade II
- Statue of Field Marshal Earl RobertsGrade II
- Statue of Field Marshal Viscount WolseleyGrade II
- Statue of General GordonGrade II
- Statue of Lord KitchenerGrade II
- Statue of Lord TrenchardGrade II
- Statue of Sir Bartle FrereGrade II
- Statue of Sir James OutramGrade II
- Statue of the Duke of CambridgeGrade II
- Statue of the Eighth Duke of DevonshireGrade II
- Statue of William TyndaleGrade II
- Steps and Parapets With Lamps at West EndGrade II
- The CitadelGrade II
- Thirty-Four Catenary Lamp StandardsGrade II
Streets in the conservation area
Streets with listed buildings inside the boundary. Boundaries often split a street — check your exact address.
Former New Scotland Yardincorporating Nos. 1-8 Richmond TerraceNorthumberland Avenue
The council’s appraisal
WEBWhitehall 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.