Greenwich has a layer of protection that most boroughs don't. Maritime Greenwich is a UNESCO World Heritage Site - one of only a handful in London - and that designation sits on top of the conservation area controls. Beyond the World Heritage Site, the borough has 23 conservation areas covering Blackheath's Georgian terraces, Charlton Village's cottages, and the Victorian residential streets of Westcombe Park and Eltham.
For homeowners, the national PD rules still apply - but checking whether your property falls within a conservation area, Article 4 zone, or the World Heritage Site buffer zone is essential before planning any work.
Greenwich has 23 conservation areas and a UNESCO World Heritage Site - a combination that makes it one of the most heritage-sensitive boroughs in London. If your property is in one of the 23 conservation areas, your rear dormer needs an application and your side extension isn't PD. If it's within the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site or its buffer zone (East Greenwich, West Greenwich, and Blackheath conservation areas), the council applies an even higher level of design scrutiny. Single storey rear extensions within the standard depth limits remain PD across all conservation areas.
Conservation areas include Maritime Greenwich, Blackheath (London's first conservation area, designated jointly with Lewisham in 1968), Charlton Village, Westcombe Park, Eltham Palace, and Woolwich. Check your property at royalgreenwich.gov.uk.
Greenwich has Article 4 directions in several conservation areas. The Maritime Greenwich UNESCO World Heritage Site adds a further layer: the council treats applications within the site and its buffer zone (East Greenwich, West Greenwich, and Blackheath conservation areas) with the same scrutiny as conservation area applications, even where the property isn't listed.
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.
Greenwich's housing ranges from Georgian and early Victorian in the north (Blackheath, Greenwich town) to Edwardian and interwar further south (Eltham, Kidbrooke). The most common PD projects in the outer parts of the borough are rear extensions on 1930s semis. In the inner conservation areas, planning applications for dormers and rear extensions are common - the council is experienced with these and approval rates are reasonable for well-designed schemes.
For the full national rules, see our guides on extensions, loft conversions, and outbuildings.
Check your property at royalgreenwich.gov.uk. Submit planning applications through the Planning Portal. The current householder fee is £548.
Greenwich-specific
Blackheath conservation area is shared between Greenwich and Lewisham. If your property is on the Blackheath, check which borough it falls within - the conservation officer and planning policies may differ.
The UNESCO World Heritage Site buffer zone means that even if your property isn't in a conservation area, if it's within the buffer zone the council will apply a higher level of design scrutiny. Check the World Heritage Site boundaries on the council's interactive map.
PD Assessment Tool
Greenwich has 23 conservation areas and a UNESCO World Heritage Site with its own buffer zone. The free eligibility check identifies whether your property falls within any of these designations.
Free eligibility check. Full assessment £47.
Conservation area count verified against Royal Borough of Greenwich'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