Living in a conservation area in Kensington ensures that the character of your property is preserved for future generations. It also requires you to comply with additional planning controls, making it important to understand these when pursuing building or home improvement works. If you’d like professional support with your planning application, the team at Wandsworth Sash Windows will be happy to help.
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Call 0207 924 7303 to discuss planning permission for conservation areas in Kensington.
Conservation areas in Kensington
What is a conservation area?
Conservation areas safeguard the built environment by applying additional oversight to building alterations. This means that planning controls are used to manage the changes that are allowed within the designated area, preserving its historic and architectural character. Living in a conservation area does not mean that your property can’t change, only that it must remain in keeping with its surroundings.
Why does Kensington have conservation areas?
Kensington is particularly proud of its historic character and is keen to ensure that this isn’t diluted or lost over time. Almost 75% of the borough falls under the protection of conservation areas.
Where are the conservation areas in Kensington?
As mentioned above, most of the land within the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea is assigned to a dedicated conservation area. There are currently 35 distinct areas to be aware of.
Local conservation areas
- Avondale
- Avondale Park Gardens
- Brompton
- Chelsea
- Chelsea Estates
- Chelsea Park Carlyle
- Cheyne
- College of St. Mark and St. John
- Colville
- Cornwall
- Courtfield
- De Vere
- Earl’s Court Square
- Earl’s Court Village
- Edwardes Square, Scarsdale
- Holland Park
- Kensington
- Kensington Court
- Kensington Square
- Ladbroke
- Lexham Gardens
- Lots Village
- Nevern Square
- Norland
- Oxford Gardens
- Pembridge
- Philbeach
- Queensgate
- Royal Hospital
- Sloane Square
- Sloane Stanley
- Thames
- The Bilings
- The Boltons
- Thurloe Estate & Smith’s Charity
Speak to a member of our team
Call 0207 924 7303 or email info@sashwindows.london to tell us your requirements if you live in a conservation area in Kensington. We’ll be happy to help you obtain planning permission.
How does living in a conservation area affect Kensington residents?
Information about each of the conservation areas and their unique character can be found on the local authority website. If you live within one of these areas it is important to familiarise yourself with the relevant guidelines before pursuing building works.
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Additional restrictions
Further restrictions can be applied if an Article 4 Direction is in place within a conservation area. This works by withdrawing permitted development rights and requiring property owners to seek planning permission instead. Here is a complete list of Article 4 Directions in Kensington. These measures are intended to control the small-scale alterations that can gradually impact the historic character of an area, such as:
- Changing front doors
- Replacing windows
- Altering boundary walls
- Works to the front elevation
- Roof alterations
Gaining planning permission within one of Kensington’s conservation areas
We’re here to support Kensington residents with their applications for planning permission, using our expertise to handle the process on their behalf. We’ve submitted more than 300 applications and are proud of the 100% success rate we have achieved within conservation areas. We understand the process and will help you to plan your home improvement project around the restrictions that are in place, even if the alteration you have in mind is as simple as installing new sash windows.
How long does it take to apply and gain approval within a conservation area?
When it comes to planning applications there are no set timelines. The time taken for approval can be influenced by a wide range of factors, including the backlog of submitted applications that the planning authority is dealing with. Nonetheless, we believe based on our experience that the following suggestions can work as rough guidelines:
Preparing the application – 2-3 weeks
The requirements within a conservation area can be complex, making preparation crucial. Allow several weeks to put your application together so you can be confident that your proposal meets the criteria.
Assessing the application – 8 weeks
The planning authority has 8 weeks to return a decision on your application, once it has been checked and marked as complete. This introduces a lot of flexibility as the planning officer can delay this countdown to their advantage. They may also extend the decision date if they request additional information. As an applicant, it’s important to accept this as part of the process as, unfortunately, these factors are out of your control.
What if my home is listed?
Listed buildings in Kensington and Chelsea 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 Kensington’s conservation areas?
Call 0207 924 7303 or email info@sashwindows.london to discuss your requirements with a member of our team. You can rely on our expertise to support you with your application for planning permission.