Wandsworth Article 4 Areas: What Needs Permission (2026)

If you own a house in Wandsworth and you're planning a loft conversion, new windows or an extension, you'll probably hear two phrases early on: "conservation area" and "Article 4". People often use them as if they mean the same thing. They don't, and mixing them up can cost you months.

This guide explains what each one does, lists the eight Wandsworth conservation areas that currently have Article 4 Directions, and shows you how to check your own address before you spend money on drawings. If you mainly want the loft-planning basics for the borough, read our Wandsworth loft conversion planning guide first, then come back here.

Conservation area vs Article 4: what's the difference?

What a conservation area changes

Wandsworth Council says the borough has 46 conservation areas. They range from a single street such as Deodar Road to large areas such as West Putney.

Being in a conservation area already removes some national "permitted development" (PD) rights. The most important one for homeowners is the loft. Under the government's technical guidance on householder permitted development, roof extensions under Class B are not permitted development on "Article 2(3) land", and conservation areas count as Article 2(3) land. The Planning Portal's loft conversion page says the same thing. In practice, a dormer loft in any Wandsworth conservation area needs a householder planning application, even if no Article 4 Direction applies.

Rear extensions are affected too. On Article 2(3) land the larger "6m/8m" prior approval route isn't available, and the PD limits are tighter. The GOV.UK guidance sets these out in detail.

What an Article 4 Direction adds

An Article 4 Direction goes further. In the council's words, it "does not prevent the development to which it applies, but instead requires that planning permission is first obtained" (Wandsworth Article 4 page). In conservation areas, Wandsworth uses Article 4(2) Directions to bring smaller external changes under control. These are changes you could otherwise make without asking, such as replacing windows, changing the roof covering or painting brickwork.

So:

• Conservation area only: loft dormers and some extensions need planning, but many small changes (like-for-like windows, say) may not.
• Conservation area + Article 4: on top of that, a list of smaller external changes also needs planning permission.

The 8 Wandsworth conservation areas with Article 4 Directions

The council's Article 4 page (updated 23/10/2025) lists these conservation areas as currently subject to Article 4 Directions. We've summarised what each council page says. Always read the direction itself, because the council warns that "some directions might only cover parts of the conservation area".

Dover House Estate (Putney/Roehampton)

The Dover House Estate page lists: external alterations visible from the street (including windows and doors), changes to roofs including re-roofing in a different material, front porches, hard surfacing in front and some side gardens, front boundary walls, fences and gates, demolition, and painting outside walls. Painting rough-cast or render in one of the approved colours (light beige, cream or off-white) is an exception.

Heaver Estate (Balham/Tooting Bec)

The Heaver Estate page covers street-visible alterations including windows and doors, roof changes including re-roofing, front porches, front-garden hard surfacing, front boundaries, demolition of the front boundary or buildings, and painting outside walls.

Latchmere Estate (Battersea)

The Latchmere Estate page is the one to watch if you're planning an extension. Alongside windows, doors, roofs, porches, boundaries, painting and demolition, it lists "Extensions to the house". Here, even an extension that would normally be PD needs planning permission.

Putney Lower Common

The Putney Lower Common page lists street-visible alterations, roofs including re-roofing, porches, front hard surfacing, front boundaries, demolition and painting outside walls.

Roehampton Village

The Roehampton Village page applies to specific addresses (15–85 Medfield Street and Hambro House, Treville Street) and covers a similar list: street-visible alterations, roofs, porches, front hard surfacing, boundaries, demolition and painting.

Shaftesbury Park Estate (Battersea)

The Shaftesbury Park Estate page lists street-visible alterations including windows and doors, roof changes including re-roofing in a different material, front porches, front boundary walls, fences and gates, demolition of buildings and some front boundaries, and painting outside walls.

Totterdown Fields Estate (Tooting)

The Totterdown Fields Estate page covers street-visible alterations, roofs including re-roofing, porches, front hard surfacing, front boundaries and demolition.

Wandsworth Common

The Wandsworth Common page is made up of several separate directions covering particular numbers on particular roads. Examples are Westover Road, Wandsworth Common Westside and Rosehill Road. Some cover only front boundaries and hard standing. Others (for example, 62–72 Wandsworth Common Westside) also cover windows, roofs, porches and painting. Check your house number carefully.

Two myths worth clearing up

"Magdalen Park is an Article 4 area"

You may still see this on some websites. In early 2023 Wandsworth made an immediate Article 4 Direction on parts of the Magdalen Park Conservation Area. But the council's Conservation Area Appraisal programme page says that in July 2023 the decision was made not to confirm it. The direction was removed, and "all properties will no longer be affected by the Direction". Magdalen Park is still a conservation area, so the conservation-area rules above, including the loss of Class B loft PD, still apply. It just isn't on the Article 4 list.

"If it's not on the Article 4 list, I don't need planning"

Not if you're in any of the other 38 conservation areas. A rear dormer in, say, a conservation area in Southfields or Wandsworth Town still needs a householder application, because Class B PD doesn't apply on Article 2(3) land. Article 4 adds to those controls. It isn't the only thing that can trigger an application.

What this means for a loft or extension

Which application you'll need

Your situation	Typical route for a rear dormer loft	Fee (England, from 1 April 2026)
Not in a conservation area, PD limits met	Optional Lawful Development Certificate (proposed)	£274
Any conservation area (Article 4 or not)	Householder planning application	£548
Article 4 area, changing front windows or roof covering	Householder planning application	£548

Fees are from the government's 2026 fee indexation schedule (householder £548; a proposed-use certificate is half the full fee). These are council fees only, not build costs. Both routes have an eight-week target for a decision.

Design points that matter in Article 4 areas

Every application is judged on its merits, and the conservation area appraisal for your area is the best guide to what officers will look for. Some things come up again and again:

• Front roof slopes and street-facing elevations. These are what the directions protect most. Changes that can't be seen from the street are usually easier to justify than changes that can.
• Materials. The directions mention "re-roofing in a different material". Matching natural slate or clay tile, and timber windows where they're original, is usually the starting point.
• Painting and render. In most of these areas, painting brick needs permission. In Dover House Estate, only the listed render colours are exempt.
• Boundaries and front gardens. Several directions cover front walls and hard standing. If your build needs skips or a new crossover, factor this in.

How to check your address in five minutes

1. Conservation area? Use the council's planning map, linked from the conservation areas FAQ.
2. Article 4? If you're in one of the eight areas above, open that area's page and the direction itself, and look for your road and house number.
3. Read the appraisal. The council recommends checking the relevant Conservation Area Appraisal for what it considers acceptable.
4. Look at neighbours' decisions. Search recent applications on your street through the council's planning applications search. Wandsworth's new planning system went live recently, so expect some changes to how search results look.
5. Still unsure? Ask your designer to confirm in writing before you commit to a scheme.

FAQ

How do I find out if my property is affected by an Article 4 Direction in Wandsworth?

Check whether you're in one of the eight listed conservation areas on the council's Article 4 page, then read that area's direction for your road and house number. Some directions only cover parts of an area.

Does an Article 4 Direction stop me building a loft or extension?

No. The council says an Article 4 Direction does not prevent development; it means you need planning permission first. Many lofts and extensions in conservation areas get approved when the design suits the area.

Can I do a loft conversion under permitted development in a Wandsworth conservation area?

Not a roof extension such as a dormer. Class B roof enlargements aren't permitted development on Article 2(3) land, which includes all conservation areas, so you'll need a householder application.

Is Magdalen Park covered by an Article 4 Direction?

No. Wandsworth says the 2023 Magdalen Park direction was not confirmed and was removed, so properties are no longer affected by it. Normal conservation-area controls still apply.

Do I need permission to replace windows in an Article 4 area?

In most of Wandsworth's eight Article 4 areas, yes, if the windows are visible from the street. The directions specifically include the replacement of windows and doors. Check the wording for your area.

Talk it through with a local builder

If you're in one of these areas and aren't sure what's realistic, we're happy to look at your house and talk through the likely route before you commit to drawings. Bluebird Spaces builds loft conversions in Wandsworth and house extensions across the borough. Call 07564 041115 or email admin@bluebirdspaces.co.uk.

This article is general guidance, not planning advice. Rules and council pages change. Confirm with Wandsworth Council or your designer before you start. Sources checked 2 October 2026.