Conservation areas in Islington
You’ll find conservation areas throughout Islington. These are important to be aware of as a local resident because they place restrictions on the alterations and adjustments you can make to your property. If you require support with obtaining planning permission in the face of these stricter requirements, our team will be happy to help. We’ve completed more than 300 applications so far.
Wandsworth Sash Windows
Call 0207 924 7303 to discuss planning permission for conservation areas in Islington.
Islington conservation areas
What is a conservation area?
Designating an area for conservation applies additional guidelines to protect its special character. According to the council, character is based on a lot more than just the buildings in an area – the materials used, boundaries, roads and pathways, landscaping, and the mixture of uses across buildings are also key.
Why does Islington have conservation areas?
The London Borough of Islington uses its conservation areas to protect features with historic interest or architectural heritage. This ensures that the character that makes each of these areas special is retained over time and isn’t lost across the generations.
Where are the conservation areas in Islington?
There are currently 41 conservation areas in Islington, demonstrating the richness and variety of the architecture that can be witnessed throughout the borough. These cover approximately 50% of the borough.
Local conservation areas
- Clerkenwell Green
- New River
- Duncan Terrace/Colebrooke Row
- Arlington Square
- Highbury Fields
- St Mary Magdalene
- Whitehall Park
- Canonbury
- Charterhouse Square
- Barnsbury
- Tufnell Park
- Newington Green
- Cross Street
- Keystone Crescent
- Highbury New Park
- St Luke’s
- Regent’s Canal West
- The Angel
- Upper Street (North)
- Chiswell Street
- King’s Cross
- Bunhill Fields and Finsbury Square
- East Canonbury
- Mercers Road/Tavistock Terrace
- Tollington Park
- Hat and Feathers
- Aberdeen Park
- St John’s Grove
- Northampton Square
- Highgate Hill/Hornsey Lane
- Moorfields
- Hillmarton
- Chapel Market/Penton Street
- Rosebery Avenue
- Kingsbury Road
- Sotheby Road
- Priory Green
- Calabria Road
- Stroud Green
- Whistler Street
- Holborn Union Infirmary
Speak to a member of our team
Do you live in one of Islington’s conservation areas? We’ll be happy to help if you need assistance with obtaining planning permission. Call 0207 924 7303 or email info@sashwindows.london to tell us your requirements.
How does living in a conservation area affect Islington residents?
If you live in one of the conservation areas outlined above, it’s important to consult the planning guidelines that the council has put together. These provide an insight into the precise controls that are in place. However, there are some restrictions which will always apply to these areas and require planning permission:
- Total or substantial demolition of a building
- External works
- Roof alterations
- Minor alterations such as satellite dishes
- Six weeks’ written notice to prune or fell a tree
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Additional restrictions
When an area is deemed particularly important, a public consultation will be held and an Article 4 Direction may be applied. This impacts the properties’ permitted development rights and makes it necessary to seek planning permission for minor alterations or home improvement projects. For example, permission would be needed to change external doors or windows or to paint external brickwork. The areas with Article 4 Direction in Islington are:
- New River
- Duncan Terrace/Colebrooke Row
- Arlington Square
- Highbury Fields
- St Mary Magdalene
- Whitehall Park
- Canonbury
- Barnsbury
- Tufnell Park
- Keystone Crescent
- Highbury New Park (Provisionally)
- East Canonbury
- Mercers Road/Tavistock Terrace
- Tollington Park
- Aberdeen Park
- St John’s Grove
- Hillmarton
- Sotheby Road
- Stroud Green
Gaining planning permission within one of Islington’s conservation areas
Although the planning permission application process is unfamiliar to many homeowners, support is available! Working with an experienced team like ours can give you confidence that the application is being handled by an experienced party. We can even handle the process from start to finish on your behalf. Wandsworth Sash Windows has a 100% success rate for applications within conservation areas and will help you to avoid hassle when you wish to install new sash windows or carry out another home improvement project.
How long does it take to apply and gain approval within a conservation area?
There are no guaranteed timeframes when it comes to planning permission. The timing for your application will depend on how many other applications have been submitted and are in the backlog of being reviewed. That said, you can use the following rough guidelines that we’ve put together based on our experiences with local planning authorities.
Preparing the application – 2-3 weeks
Preparation is key to making a successful application. You should allow several weeks at this stage to ensure that all the relevant Conservation Area Design Guidelines (CADG) are met by the proposal.
Assessing the application – 8 weeks
The planning authority is held to an 8-week timeframe to return a decision. This countdown only starts once the application has been reviewed initially and has been marked as complete, allowing the authority to delay the process and accommodate their current backlog. In order to further delay the decision date, they can also request further information. Unfortunately, these factors can’t be predicted or controlled and must be accepted as part of the planning process.
What if my home is listed?
Listed buildings in Islington need Listed Building Consent from the council for almost any change to their windows, on top of any planning permission. We don’t carry out work on listed buildings, so if your home is listed, speak to the council’s conservation officer first. If your home is in a conservation area but isn’t listed, we can prepare and submit the planning application for you.
Do you live in one of Islington’s conservation areas?
We’re here to help with local planning applications in Islington. If you’d like assistance with works in a conservation area, rely on us. Call 0207 924 7303 or email info@sashwindows.london to start the process.