Conservation areas
We have designated 44 conservation areas in our borough, recognising that these areas are of special architectural or historic interest. Conservation areas are designated heritage assets and we will assess any applications relating to them using our planning policies and guidance in relation to designated heritage assets in the Local Plan and the Planning Guidance SPD.
Listed buildings
Historic England have designated around 500 buildings of special architectural or historic interest in our borough. Not all the structures that appear on the statutory list are buildings, for example it also includes some cast iron bollards, pillar boxes and traditional red telephone kiosks. Listed buildings are designated heritage assets and we will assess any applications relating to them using our planning policies and guidance in relation to designated heritage assets in the Local Plan and the Planning Guidance SPD.
Buildings of Merit
Our Local Register of Buildings of Merit features buildings and structures of local townscape, architectural or historic importance and is compiled in consultation with local amenity groups. Buildings of Merit are non-designated heritage assets and we will assess any planning application relating to them using our planning policies and guidance in relation to non-designated heritage assets and Buildings of Merit in the Local Plan and the Planning Guidance SPD.
View the Local Register of Buildings of Merit (pdf)
The Local Register was adopted in 2000 and since then the names and addresses of some buildings may have changed.
Archaeology and scheduled ancient monument
The Fulham Palace Moated Site is a scheduled ancient monument which has been designated by Historic England. The scheduled ancient monument is a designated heritage asset and we will assess any applications relating to it using our planning policies and guidance in relation to designated heritage assets in the Local Plan and the Planning Guidance SPD.
Scheduled monument consent is required from Historic England for any works on or below the surface of the area within the scheduled ancient monument, this is a separate process to applying for planning permission from the council.
Fulham Palace Moated Site map (pdf)
We have also designated several archaeological priority areas in the borough, generally on the riverside or around the historic village centres of Hammersmith, Fulham and Walham Green. These identify areas where the potential for archaeological finds is likely to be particularly high.
Historic parks and gardens
We have four open spaces which have been specifically designated by Historic England for their landscape quality. The Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest includes Bishops Park (Grade II); Fulham Palace (Grade II*); Kensal Green (All Souls) Cemetery (Grade I) and St Peter's Square (Grade II). Historic parks and gardens are designated heritage assets and we will assess any applications relating to them using our planning policies and guidance in relation to designated heritage assets in the Local Plan and the Planning Guidance SPD.
Many of our other open spaces are included in our Conservation Areas and many also contain listed buildings and Buildings of Merit.
Area of special advertisement control and controls on estate agent boards
We have one area of special advertisement control covering most of The Mall Conservation Area. This means that advertisement consent is required to display some types of advertisements and signs that would normally not need our consent.
The Mall area of special advertisement control map (pdf)
We have several conservation areas where a Regulation 7 Direction is in place. This means that advertisement consent is required in order to display estate agent boards. The display of estate agent boards is restricted in all or parts of the following conservation areas: Barons Court, Lakeside/Sinclair/Blythe Road, Gunter Estate, Hammersmith Grove, Moore Park, Olympia & Avonmore, Parsons Green and Walham Green.
Article 4 Directions
These Article 4 Directions are in place to protect the character and appearance of buildings and the amenity of neighbouring residents from potentially harmful alterations and extensions. Planning permission will be required to carry out the types of development which are restricted by each Article 4 Direction. More information is available from the Urban Design and Conservation Team, please call 020 8753 1081 or email: planning@lbhf.gov.uk.
New Article 4 Directions have been in place across the Borough since April 2018 to restrict the permitted change of use from office use (class B1) or storage use (class B8) to residential use (class C3) and to restrict permitted development rights for basement excavation. Planning permission will now be required to carry out these changes of use and any basement excavation. More information is available from the Planning Policy Team, please call 020 8753 1081 or email: planning@lbhf.gov.uk.
Design policies and guidelines
Our main design policies are included in our Local Plan. Design Guidelines for our conservation areas and for specific types of development such as basement excavation, lightwells, shopfronts and shop signs are included in our Planning Guidance SPD.
We have also produced a specific design guidance leaflet for the shopping parade at Nos. 54-108 Uxbridge Road in the Shepherds Bush Conservation Area.
Design Review Panel
The Design Review Panel is a meeting of independent professionals with architectural and design expertise who support and advise us to deliver high quality architecture and urban design in major new developments. The panel also includes representatives from the Hammersmith Society and the Fulham Society.
Historic sculptures
Working with Historic England and Hammersmith & Fulham Historic Buildings Group, we are committed to protecting and conserving historic sculptures, artefacts, and monuments in the borough. The historic sculpture survey was carried out by Hammersmith and Fulham Historic Buildings Group with assistance from the council and Historic England.
Trees and tree preservation orders
We are keen to protect trees in the borough. Trees can be protected by Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) which make it an offence to remove, prune or damage them even if they are on private land. If you want to carry out work on a tree which is subject to a TPO, you will need to obtain our consent. More information on trees including a list of properties currently subject to a Tree Preservation Order is available to view on our website.
All works to trees in conservation areas are subject to a prior notification process, to give the council time to consider if the works would be harmful to the amenity of the area and if necessary make a Tree Preservation Order. You must give us six weeks prior written notice of the tree works that you wish to carry out. It is an offence to carry out works to trees in a conservation area without having given us the required notice.
Contact us
To contact the Urban Design and Conservation Team please call 020 8753 1081 or email: planning@lbhf.gov.uk.