Lewisham's housing is predominantly Victorian and Edwardian - long streets of terraces and semis built during south London's rapid expansion, with pockets of Georgian survival in Blackheath and Lee. It's a borough where loft conversions and rear extensions are common because the houses were built with the proportions that make them possible - generous ceiling heights, deep plots, pitched roofs with usable space inside. The council has 28 conservation areas and Article 4 directions in many of them, specifically restricting external changes visible from public viewpoints.
This page covers the local planning restrictions for homeowners in Lewisham.
In Lewisham, if your Victorian terrace is in Brockley, Telegraph Hill, or any of the borough's 28 conservation areas, a rear dormer needs a planning application rather than being PD. But Lewisham's Article 4 directions are more nuanced than many boroughs - they only restrict changes "visible from public viewpoints." This means your rear extension, your garden outbuilding, and even changes to rear windows may still be permitted development, even within a conservation area. Single storey rear extensions within the standard depth limits remain PD everywhere.
Conservation areas include Blackheath (London's first, designated jointly with Greenwich in 1968), Brockley, Telegraph Hill, Sydenham Hill, Lee Manor, Deptford High Street, Forest Hill, and Ladywell. Check your property at lewisham.gov.uk.
Lewisham's Article 4 directions restrict permitted development for houses in conservation areas where external changes would be visible from public viewpoints. This includes changes to windows, doors, chimneys, and other material alterations, as well as the construction of any building within the grounds of a house where this would be visible from a public viewpoint. Crucially, rear work not visible from the street may still be permitted.
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.
Lewisham's Victorian terraces - particularly in Brockley, Telegraph Hill, Forest Hill, and Catford - are classic London extension territory. These houses were built with proportions that work for modern renovation: high ceilings, deep plots, double-pitched roofs. The most common PD projects are rear extensions (often side returns on wider plots) and loft conversions with rear dormers.
Outside conservation areas, the national rules apply in full. Inside them, rear extensions are typically still PD but dormers need an application. The council is experienced with Victorian terrace renovations and approval rates for well-designed schemes are reasonable.
For the full national rules, see our guides on extensions, loft conversions, and outbuildings.
Check your property at lewisham.gov.uk. Submit planning applications through the Planning Portal. The current householder fee is £548.
Lewisham-specific
Lewisham's Article 4 directions only restrict changes "visible from public viewpoints." This means that rear alterations - a garden outbuilding, a rear extension, changes to rear windows - may still be permitted development even within a conservation area with an Article 4 direction. This is a more nuanced restriction than some boroughs, and it's worth understanding exactly what's covered before assuming you need an application.
Brockley conservation area is one of the largest and most actively managed in the borough. The council's conservation area appraisal specifically identifies features that contribute to the area's character. If you're in Brockley, read the appraisal before designing anything.
PD Assessment Tool
Lewisham has 28 conservation areas with a nuanced Article 4 regime that treats front and rear elevations differently. 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 Lewisham'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