If you own a house in Hackney, you have the same national permitted development rights as any homeowner in England - but Hackney has more local restrictions than most boroughs. With 35 conservation areas, multiple Article 4 directions covering householder PD rights, and a planning team that actively monitors compliance, understanding the local landscape before you start work is more important here than almost anywhere else in London.
This page covers what you need to know about planning in Hackney specifically - the local restrictions that sit on top of the national rules.
35 conservation areas. Multiple Article 4 directions. Hackney has more local restrictions on PD rights than most London boroughs.
If your property is in one of Hackney's 35 conservation areas, the standard national PD rules are automatically tighter. Under the GPDO, on designated land (which includes conservation areas), roof extensions are not permitted development - so any dormer or loft conversion involving an addition to the roof will need a planning application. Side extensions are also not PD on designated land.
Single storey rear extensions within the standard depth limits (3m for terraces and semis, 4m for detached) are still permitted development in conservation areas. Rooflights on the rear may also still be permitted under Class C.
Hackney's conservation areas include Albion Square, Broadway Market, Brownswood, Clapton Common, Clapton Square, De Beauvoir Town, Dalston Lane, Graham Road and Mapledene, Hackney Road, Hackney Wick, Hoxton Street, Lordship Park, Mare Street, Stoke Newington, Victoria Park, and many more. You can check whether your property is in a conservation area using Hackney's online planning map.
Hackney has several Article 4 directions. The ones most relevant to homeowners are:
The Brownswood, Beck Road, and Well Street conservation areas have Article 4 directions that remove permitted development rights under Part 1 (extensions and alterations), Part 2 (minor operations like fences and gates), and Part 14 (renewable energy). In these areas, you need planning permission for work that would be PD elsewhere in Hackney - including changes to windows, doors, and other external features that would normally not need consent.
The De Beauvoir and St Mark's conservation areas also have Article 4 directions - check the specific direction to see which PD rights are affected.
Hackney has borough-wide and area-specific Article 4 directions removing PD rights for converting commercial uses to residential. This mainly affects investors and developers rather than homeowners planning extensions, but is worth knowing if you're buying a property that was previously commercial.
For the full list of Article 4 directions, see Hackney Council's Article 4 page. For a general explanation of how Article 4 works, see our Article 4 guide.
Our free eligibility check identifies whether your property is in a conservation area or other designated area. For Hackney-specific Article 4 directions, check the council's online map directly.
If your property is not in a conservation area and not covered by an Article 4 direction, the standard national PD rules apply in full. You can build a rear extension (up to 3m on a terrace or semi, 4m on a detached house), convert your loft with a rear dormer (within the 40 or 50 cubic metre volume limit), and add outbuildings in the garden (within the height and coverage limits) - all without planning permission.
Even within conservation areas, single storey rear extensions within the standard depth limits are still PD. Rear rooflights are usually fine too. The restrictions mainly affect roof extensions, side extensions, and external alterations to the front or sides of the building.
For the full national rules, see our guides on extensions, loft conversions, and outbuildings.
Check your property's constraints: Hackney's online planning map shows conservation areas, Article 4 directions, listed buildings, and tree preservation orders for any address in the borough.
Submit a planning application: Applications are submitted through the national Planning Portal. The current householder application fee is £548.
Pre-application advice: Hackney offers a pre-application service where you can discuss your proposals with a planning officer before submitting a formal application. This is worth considering for any project in a conservation area or Article 4 zone. Check hackney.gov.uk for current fees and how to apply.
Planning history search: You can search planning applications and decisions on the Hackney Council website to see what has been approved (or refused) near your property.
Hackney-specific tips
Check the conservation area before you buy. With 35 conservation areas and growing, a significant proportion of Hackney's residential properties are affected. The restrictions on roof extensions mean that loft conversion potential - one of the main ways to add value in Hackney's dense terraced streets - may require a planning application rather than being PD.
The Article 4 directions in Brownswood, Beck Road, and Well Street go further than standard conservation area restrictions. Even changing your windows or front door in these areas requires planning permission. If you're in one of these zones, check before you start any external work.
Hackney actively monitors compliance. This is a borough where enforcement notices are issued. Don't assume work will go unnoticed - check the rules first.
PD Assessment Tool
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 in Hackney. If your property qualifies for PD, the full assessment checks every condition for your specific project type.
Free eligibility check. Full assessment £47.
Local information sourced from Hackney Council's published conservation area records, Article 4 direction notices, and online planning map (hackney.gov.uk). National PD rules verified against the GPDO 2015 (as amended). 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