The Royal Borough of Greenwich includes the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Maritime Greenwich, a large number of conservation areas, and its own Residential Extensions, Basements and Conversions SPD. The presence of the World Heritage Site and its buffer zone adds a layer of scrutiny not found in most London boroughs. Outer Greenwich areas such as Eltham and Woolwich have more permissive residential contexts with stronger permitted development availability.
Common projects that may be straightforward when they fit within PD limits and local constraints.
These are the usual reasons planning permission becomes more likely in Greenwich.
The biggest drivers of approval are the exact proposal (dimensions and design) and the exact site constraints (designation, conditions, neighbour impacts). Use borough context as a starting point, then validate it with address-level checks and nearby precedents.
Projects that stay modest in size, match materials, and avoid obvious neighbour impacts are more likely to be straightforward — even before you consider borough-specific policies.
Conservation areas, listed buildings, Article 4 directions, flood risk and TPOs can flip the answer. Address-level checks stop you wasting money on the wrong scheme.
The fastest signal is what the council has approved or refused on comparable streets nearby. Precedent does not guarantee success, but it helps you shape a lower-risk design.
Basement proposals are highly site-specific. Always validate with an address-level check and professional advice.
Check my propertyCouncils rarely refuse the "idea" of an extension or loft conversion — refusals are usually about scale, design, neighbour impacts, and policy/designation conflicts. When you run a check, CanUBuild shows nearby approvals and refusals so you can see what has worked locally.
An invalid application cannot be registered. Use this checklist to ensure your submission is complete before you pay the fee.
Requirements can change — always verify the current validation checklist on the Royal Borough of Greenwich website before submitting.
Search the address, choose your project type, and get an answer based on permitted development rules, local constraints, and nearby precedent decisions.
It depends on your location. Properties within the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site or its buffer zone may face additional scrutiny to ensure that any development does not harm the Outstanding Universal Value of the site. Many residential streets in the Royal Borough are well outside the WHS area and are not affected.
Basement proposals in Greenwich are assessed against the council's Basements SPD, which requires additional evidence on construction methods and neighbour impacts. Whether full planning permission is also needed depends on the scale and location of the works.
Yes — Blackheath Village is within a conservation area (shared with Lewisham Borough for the village itself). Properties in and around Blackheath face conservation area controls on development.
In the outer parts of the borough — Eltham, Kidbrooke, parts of Woolwich — many properties benefit from full permitted development rights. The inner and heritage-sensitive areas have more restrictions. Check your address specifically.
Last reviewed: 2026-03 · This guide is for general information only. Always verify with Royal Borough of Greenwich or a qualified planning consultant before making decisions.