Hounslow's residential character ranges widely. The grand riverside houses of Strand-on-the-Green and Chiswick Mall, where properties back onto the Thames. The Arts and Crafts cottages of Bedford Park, which shares its conservation area with Ealing. The suburban semis of Isleworth and Feltham. Twenty-eight conservation areas cover the areas where that variety of character is most worth protecting.
The national PD rules apply in Hounslow the same as anywhere in England. Here's what's different locally.
Hounslow's 28 conservation areas are concentrated in the eastern half of the borough - Chiswick, Brentford, Strand-on-the-Green - where the housing stock is oldest and the architectural character strongest. If your property is in one, a rear dormer needs a planning application and a side extension isn't PD. In the western suburbs - Feltham, Hanworth, Hounslow town - the national rules apply in full to most properties. Single storey rear extensions within the standard depth limits remain PD even in conservation areas.
Conservation areas include Chiswick, Strand-on-the-Green, Turnham Green, Brentford, Isleworth, and the Bedford Park area (shared with Ealing). Check your property at hounslow.gov.uk.
Hounslow has Article 4 directions in several conservation areas restricting external alterations. The council was consulting on updated conservation area appraisals at the time of writing.
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.
Hounslow spans from urban Chiswick and Brentford in the east to suburban Feltham and Hanworth in the west. In Chiswick, the Victorian and Edwardian terraces are among the most actively renovated housing stock in west London - side returns, rear extensions, and loft conversions are the standard projects. The conservation area controls are tighter here. In the western suburbs, the interwar semis have full PD rights and the standard national rules apply.
For the full national rules, see our guides on extensions, loft conversions, and outbuildings.
Check your property at hounslow.gov.uk. Submit planning applications through the Planning Portal. The current householder fee is £548.
Hounslow-specific
Bedford Park straddles the Hounslow/Ealing boundary. If your property is in Bedford Park, check which borough it falls within - the planning authority and conservation officer will differ. The conservation area has strong Article 4 controls covering external alterations.
Chiswick's riverside conservation areas (Strand-on-the-Green, Chiswick Mall) have additional protections relating to the river setting. Any work visible from the Thames Path may receive closer scrutiny.
PD Assessment Tool
Hounslow has 28 conservation areas, concentrated in the east of the borough. The free eligibility check identifies your property's status. 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 Hounslow'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