Are you a Southwark resident in a conservation area? If you’re unsure of the additional planning controls that are in place for your property, it’s important to familiarise yourself with these before making any alterations or pursuing a home improvement project. Plus, when it comes to submitting a planning application, the team at Wandsworth Sash Windows will be happy to lend an expert helping hand. Just get in touch on 020 8131 2886 to tell us your requirements.
Call 020 8131 2886 to discuss planning permission for conservation areas in Southwark.
Conservation areas put protections in place to preserve their character and appearance. This means expanding the scope of planning controls so that more and more alterations require permission beforehand. As a result, the qualities that make these areas unique are retained from generation to generation.
Southwark relies on conservation areas to help protect its historic heritage and architectural character. These are the features that make these areas distinctive and worthy of preservation. By carefully managing the changes that can be made to properties in conservation areas, the council can ensure that they aren’t altered beyond recognition.
You’ll find conservation areas throughout Southwark, making it important to know whether your property falls within one of their boundaries.
Need assistance with your planning application? Let us help! Call 020 8131 2886 or email info@sashwindows.london to tell us your requirements.
When you live in a conservation area there are additional rules that you have to follow. You can learn more about each of the areas of the Southwark Council website. The council also has interactive Southwark conservation area maps that you can explore. Example restrictions that apply to conservation areas include:
Southwark Council has applied an Article 4 Direction to the Sunray Estate. This adds further protections to the buildings within this conservation area by removing specific permitted development rights that homeowners would otherwise have enjoyed. These alterations now also require planning permission, allowing the local authority to remain involved and control the changes that can be made without approval. When an area is of particular significance, an Article 4 Direction can prevent minor changes from gradually diluting the character of its properties.
Seeking planning permission can be an unfamiliar exercise for homeowners, which is why we’re happy to offer our expertise. We’ve submitted more than 300 applications to various local planning authorities and have achieved a 100% approval rate for applications within conservation areas. As a result, you can rely on us to manage your application from start to finish and to spare you the hassle. Wandsworth Sash Windows are happy to help with planning applications for any home improvement project or alteration; we are by no means limited to new sash window installations.
You’ll quickly find that there’s no definitive answer to this question. Too many factors can influence how long an application takes, one major consideration being the number of submitted applications that are currently in the queue to be reviewed. Despite this, we’ve drawn upon our experience to offer the following timeframes as a rough guide:
To be sure that the works you are proposing align with the relevant planning requirements, allow several weeks for preparing the application. This ensures there is enough time to gather all the relevant information and check that all the criteria are being met by the application.
The planning authority have 8 weeks to return their decision. This countdown will only start once the application is marked as complete, giving the planning authority flexibility to delay if they are dealing with a significant backlog. They are also able to extend the decision date by requesting additional information. Unfortunately, nothing can be done if your application is held up by these steps – this is just part of the process.
Southwark has 2,200 buildings listed on the National Heritage List for England (NHLE). It’s important to take account of whether your building is listed as additional restrictions will apply. Southwark is also planning to follow in the footsteps of many other London boroughs and establish a list of locally significant buildings.
In November 2022, Southwark Council held a public consultation to establish a list of locally significant buildings. These buildings won’t be subject to additional planning controls, but their historic or architectural character will be taken into consideration when any applications for planning permission are made.
These buildings have been recognised as part of the nation’s heritage. Their listed status makes them subject to strict planning controls and any proposed works must go through an in-depth process to obtain Listed Building Consent (LBC). This is a legal requirement. LBC is required for internal and external alterations and because the process is so thorough you should allow at least 12-18 weeks. You should also note that the scale of the proposed works isn’t taken into account. The full process is always followed.
As alluded to above, Listed Building Consent is a highly involved process. There will be lots of back and forth with the planning authority and you should expect to supply additional information as the process progresses. In many cases, multiple applications will need to be made before approval is given. This is because of how strict the requirements are. Working with a team like Wandsworth Sash Windows can provide peace of mind that you have access to the support you need. We’ll be able to advise you on the different approaches you could take and will let you know which is most realistic. Read our guide to Listed Building services discover how we can be of assistance.
We’re here to help Southwark residents gain planning approval. Call 020 8131 2886 or email info@sashwindows.london to discuss your requirements with a member of our team.
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