London Borough of Richmond upon Thames
Planning & Conservation in Richmond upon Thames
Richmond upon Thames is known for strong design and conservation policy and a historic riverside setting. We design extensions, refurbishments and sensitive alterations across the borough to those standards.
The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames includes Richmond, with its Georgian and Victorian houses, celebrated Green and riverside. It has extensive conservation-area coverage, many listed buildings, and protected views, so external alterations and additions are designed and assessed with care.
We prepare planning, listed building consent and building regulations information across the borough, and coordinate the heritage, structural and party wall input these projects require. The right route depends on the property and its designations, which we confirm.
How planning works here
London Borough of Richmond upon Thames: process for homeowners
Richmond combines riverside and historic town conservation character with careful householder design assessment — confirm CA appraisals and flood/riverside constraints for the pin.
Householder process
1. Confirm conservation area and riverside context
Richmond’s historic cores (e.g. Central Richmond CA) and riverside streets raise character and sometimes flood-risk considerations. Confirm CA, listing and flood zone for the exact address before assuming PD.
2. Design for host and streetscape
Extensions and roof alterations are assessed for scale, materials and effect on neighbours. Formal elevations and garden settings in conservation areas need elevation evidence, not plan-only depth.
3. Validation-ready submission
Complete existing/proposed drawings, location/block plans and any heritage statements required by local validation. Programme building regulations and party wall after the envelope freezes.
4. Technical stage
Building regulations drawings resolve structure, fire, insulation and drainage. Riverside or lower-lying pins may need drainage/waterproofing attention beyond a standard terrace pack.
Project types & evidence
Rear extensions and lofts
Subordinate rear additions and rear dormers are more commonly supportable than dominant street-facing change in formal CAs — always property-specific.
Basements / lower ground
Confirm current Richmond basement/subterranean policy and flood constraints for the application date. Do not import Camden/RBKC evidence lists wholesale without local validation checks.
Historic townscape and living conditions
Character of conservation areas and neighbour amenity dominate. Incomplete elevation sets on CA streets are a common delay mode.
Package
Measured existing/proposed plans, elevations, sections; location and block plans; heritage information where listed or CA-sensitive.
Official sources used on this page
Policy and Article 4 maps change. Confirm designations for your exact address on the council’s live planning map before relying on any general description.
Areas we cover
Prime neighbourhoods in Richmond upon Thames
Richmond upon Thames
Architects in Richmond
We design extensions, refurbishments and sensitive alterations for Richmond’s period homes and riverside properties, within the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames’ strong conservation and green-setting context.
View areaRichmond upon Thames
Architects in Kew
We design sensitive extensions and refurbishments for the Georgian and Victorian homes of Kew, from the cottages around Kew Green to the terraces near the Botanic Gardens. Our drawings are prepared with Richmond’s conservation expectations in mind.
View areaRichmond upon Thames
Architects in Barnes
We carry out sensitive refurbishments and carefully judged extensions on the period cottages and villas of Barnes, from Barnes Pond to Castelnau, with drawings prepared for Richmond’s conservation requirements.
View areaPlanning in Richmond upon Thames: FAQs
Is Richmond strict on planning?
Are trees protected in Richmond’s conservation areas?
Planning a project in Richmond upon Thames?
Send us the address, property type and a short description of the work. We will advise whether you are likely to need planning drawings, building regulations drawings, listed building advice or leasehold approval drawings.