Bromley has more conservation areas than almost any other London borough - 47 of them, covering everything from the medieval core of Orpington Priory to the Victorian shopping parades of Beckenham and the garden suburb feel of Petts Wood. It's a borough where character matters to the council, and where homeowners are more likely than average to find their property sits within a designated area.
If your house is outside those 47 conservation areas, the national PD rules apply in full. If it's inside one, the picture changes significantly. This page explains the local restrictions.
With 47 conservation areas, Bromley has more designated land than almost any other London borough. If your property is in Chislehurst, Petts Wood, Beckenham, or any of these areas, your rear dormer needs a planning application. Your side extension isn't PD. But a single storey rear extension within the standard depth limits still qualifies. The council adopted new Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan documents for five areas in June 2025 - Shortlands Village, Bromley Town Centre, The Covert, The Thrifts, and Chislehurst Road.
Check your property using Bromley Council's interactive map.
Bromley's conservation areas have Article 4 directions restricting external alterations including windows, doors, roofs, and boundary walls. The borough takes conservation area enforcement seriously. The council has adopted guidance documents for all 47 conservation areas - check the specific document for your area.
For a general explanation of how Article 4 directions work, see our Article 4 guide.
Our free eligibility check identifies whether your property is in a conservation area or other designated area - the first thing to establish before planning any work.
Bromley's housing is predominantly 1930s semis and detached houses with generous plots. The most common PD project is a rear extension - often to the full 4-metre depth allowed on detached houses. Loft conversions with rear dormers are also common outside conservation areas. The larger plots mean outbuildings are more viable here than in inner London boroughs.
With 47 conservation areas, check your status before committing. But the majority of Bromley's housing stock sits outside designated areas, and for those properties the national rules apply in full.
For the full national rules, see our guides on extensions, loft conversions, and outbuildings.
Check your property at bromley.gov.uk. Submit planning applications through the Planning Portal. The current householder fee is £548.
Bromley-specific
Bromley also includes areas within the Kent Downs AONB in the south of the borough. Properties within the AONB have the same designated land restrictions as conservation areas - no roof extensions, no side extensions under PD. Check whether your property falls within the AONB boundary as well as the conservation area map.
Petts Wood is one of the most heavily controlled areas in the borough. The conservation area has specific Article 4 directions and the council monitors external alterations closely. If you're in Petts Wood, pre-application advice is worth the investment.
PD Assessment Tool
Bromley has 47 conservation areas and parts of the Kent Downs AONB. The free eligibility check identifies whether your property falls within either designation. If it qualifies for PD, the full assessment checks every condition.
Free eligibility check. Full assessment £47.
Conservation area count verified against London Borough of Bromley's published records. National PD rules verified against the GPDO 2015 (as amended). Fees confirmed as of 1 April 2026. This page is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Local planning policies and Article 4 directions can change - always check the council's website for the most current information.
April 2026