Croydon sits at a threshold. To the south, the suburban streets give way to the green belt and the Surrey Downs. To the north, the borough merges into London's dense urban fabric. The housing reflects this - large detached plots in Sanderstead and Selsdon, tight Victorian terraces near East Croydon, interwar semis stretching along every arterial road. Planning applications here are among the highest volume in London, and the council has 21 conservation areas - with nine more under consideration following a review announced in late 2025.
The national PD rules apply in Croydon the same as anywhere in England. Here's what's different locally.
Croydon has 21 conservation areas, with nine additional areas under consideration following a review announced in December 2025. If your property is in one of the existing 21, a rear dormer needs a planning application and a side extension isn't PD. Single storey rear extensions within the standard depth limits remain permitted development. But the landscape is actively changing - if your property is near one of the candidate areas, the rules may tighten.
Conservation areas include Central Croydon, Church Street, Broad Green and Selhurst, Park Hill, Sanderstead, Upper Woodcote, Webb Estate, Addington Village, and Forestdale. Check your property using Croydon Council's planning map.
Croydon has Article 4 directions in several conservation areas restricting external alterations. The borough also has Article 4 directions covering HMO conversions.
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.
Croydon is one of the most actively developed boroughs in London. The housing stock ranges from Victorian terraces in Thornton Heath and Selhurst to 1930s semis in Purley and Kenley. The most common PD projects are rear extensions and loft conversions on the interwar semis - these houses have wide plots, deep gardens, and pitched roofs that work well for dormers.
Outside the 21 conservation areas, the national rules apply in full. And with the majority of Croydon's residential stock sitting outside designated areas, most homeowners can extend and convert without a planning application.
For the full national rules, see our guides on extensions, loft conversions, and outbuildings.
Check your property at croydon.gov.uk. Submit planning applications through the Planning Portal. The current householder fee is £548.
Croydon-specific
Croydon's conservation area review announced in December 2025 means the planning landscape is actively changing. If your property is near one of the nine areas being considered for designation - including Sanderstead Village, the Civic Quarter, and others - it's worth checking the council's website for updates before you commit to a design.
The Webb Estate in south Croydon has particularly strict controls. Properties on this private estate have covenants as well as conservation area restrictions - similar in principle to Bournville in Birmingham.
PD Assessment Tool
Croydon's planning landscape is changing, with nine new conservation areas under review. The free eligibility check identifies your property's current status. If it qualifies for PD, the full assessment checks every condition.
Free eligibility check. Full assessment £47.
Conservation area count verified against Croydon Council'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