Conservation areas and listed buildings

We want to conserve, protect, and promote, Waltham Forest's historic buildings. If you want to make changes to a listed building or within a conservation area, you’ll need to follow certain planning rules.

We designate conservation areas to recognise and protect places of special architectural and historic interest.

You’ll likely need planning permission to make external changes to properties within these areas. Such changes are also expected to preserve or enhance the character of the area. See the Article 4 section below for more detail.

You can use our maps to check if your property is within a conservation area:

• Bakers Arms - Bakers Arms appraisal management plan (PDF), Bakers Arms map (PDF)
• Browning Road - Browning Road appraisal management plan (PDF), Browning Road map (PDF)
• Chingford Green - Chingford Green appraisal management plan (PDF),
  Chingford Green map (PDF)
• Chingford Station Road - Chingford Station Road appraisal management plan (PDF), Chingford Station Road Map (PDF)
• Forest School - Forest School appraisal management plan (PDF), Forest School map (PDF)
• Leucha Road - Leucha Road appraisal management plan (PDF), Leucha Road map (PDF)
• Leyton Town Centre -  A new conservation area appraisal management plan is currently being prepared for Leyton Town Centre, Leyton map (PDF)
• Leytonstone - Leytonstone appraisal management plan (PDF), Leytonstone map (PDF)
• Lloyd Park - Lloyd Park appraisal management plan (PDF), Lloyd Park map (PDF)
• Orford Road - Orford Rd appraisal management plan (PDF), 
  Orford Road map 1 (PDF), Orford Road map 2 (PDF)
• Ropers Field - Ropers Field appraisal management plan (PDF), Ropers Field map (PDF)
• Thornhill Road - Thornhill Road appraisal management plan (PDF), Thornhill Road map (PDF)
• Walthamstow St James - Walthamstow St James appraisal management plan (PDF), Walthamstow St James map (PDF)
• Walthamstow Village - Walthamstow Village appraisal management plan (PDF), Walthamstow Village map (PDF)
• Woodford Green - Woodford Green appraisal management plan (PDF),
  Woodford Green map 1 (PDF), Woodford Green map 2 (PDF)

There are Article 4 directions in place across most of our local conservation areas. These directions restrict permitted development rights within a specified area.

Their purpose is to retain high-quality architectural features and ensure that any changes consider their surroundings. 

If you have a planning proposal for a single dwelling house, in one of the following conservation areas, you may need planning permission.

The Article 4 directions for Waltham Forest's conservation areas are:

• Chingford Green Conservation Area (PDF)
• Forest School Conservation Area (PDF)
• Leytonstone Conservation Area (PDF)
• Orford Road Conservation Area (PDF)
• Ropers Field Conservation Area (PDF)
• Thornhill Road conservation area (PDF)
• Woodford Green Conservation Area (PDF)
• Browning Road Conservation Area (PDF)
• Browning Road Conservation Area - accessible version (PDF) 
• Walthamstow Village Conservation Area (PDF) 
• Walthamstow Village Conservation Area - accessible version (PDF) 

Commercial properties and flats don't have permitted development rights, so are not covered by Article 4 directions. You'll still probably need planning permission to make external changes to these properties.

Find out more about local Article 4 directions

'Listed buildings' are buildings, objects and structures designated by Government on the advice of Historic England of national architectural and historic interest.

A full list of listed buildings in Waltham Forest on the Historic England website.

Any change to a listed building that would affect its character will require either planning permission or listed building consent, or both.

Apply to us for planning permission and listed building consent.

Locally listed buildings

We keep a list of locally significant buildings, which we regularly review. These buildings must be conserved and enhanced in ways appropriate to their importance.

Current list of locally significant buildings (PDF)

Email for general inquiries about the Local Heritage List. 

We have one designated Area of Special Character, which covers the Highams Park Estate.

Unlike a conservation area, properties within Highams Park Estate still have permitted development rights. However, we favour planning applications that respect and enhance its significance.

Highams Area of Special Character information leaflet (PDF)

Article 4 direction

We made an Article 4(1) Direction for the Highams Area of Special Character on 7 August 2019. Following public consultation, this came into effect on 2 September 2020.

The direction covers the whole of the Highams Area of Special Character. It means that owners must seek planning permission for development within any of the four classes it includes.

• Notice of Confirmation of Article 4 Direction (PDF)
• Signed Article 4 Direction including map (PDF)
• Map of the Area of Special Character