Character-led design and heritage

6.11 Character-led design

A variety of housing types can be seen across Waltham Forest. By understanding the historic qualities of housing, we can respect its unique character, while developing and retrofitting homes.

As shown in the map below, distinctive housing types in Waltham Forest include Victorian and Edwardian terraces, Warner housing, Abraham flats and later inter-war developments.


6.11.1When planning an extension or alteration residents should consider the housing type, built form, roofscape, height, materiality and heritage of the surrounding area. This will help to ensure a character-led approach to development, which is supported by Policy 53 of the Local Plan, ‘Delivering High Quality Design’.


6.11.2Building composition and detailing specific to a certain era should be preserved wherever possible, to create distinctive and attractive residential areas throughout the borough.


6.11.3Preserving original building details is of particular importance in conservation areas. This is supported by Policy 72 of the Local Plan, ‘Conservation Areas’.


6.11.4

If a Neighbourhood Plan is in effect in the area where the proposed works will take place, the works should be in conformity with the character assessment or design codes included in the Neighbourhood Plan for that area.


6.11.5

If an Article 4 direction is in place for the area where the proposed works will take place, the works should be in conformity with the planning conditions imposed by Article 4 direction.




Illustration of broad housing types in Waltham Forest (LBWF)


6.12 Conservation areas

There are 15 conservation areas across Waltham Forest, as shown in the map below.

Conservation areas in the north of the borough:

A. Chingford Station Road

B. Chingford Green

C. Ropers Field

D. Woodford Green

Conservation areas in the central borough:

E. Lloyd Park

F. Leucha Road

G. Walthamstow St James

H. Walthamstow Village

I. Orford Road

J. Forest School

Conservation areas in the south of the borough:

K. Bakers Arms

L. Leytonstone

M. Thornhill Road

N. Browning Road

O. Leyton Town Centre


6.12.1Being located in a conservation area can affect what alterations can be made to a home, and whether planning permission will be required. This is supported by Policy 72 of the Local Plan, ‘Conservation Areas’.


6.12.2Residents are advised to check if their home is located in a conservation area here before planning any extensions or alterations.





Map of conservation areas, evenly distributed across Waltham Forest (LBWF)



6.13 Article 4 directions in conservation areas

At the time of publication, there are Article 4 directions in place for the following conservation areas in Waltham Forest:

  • Chingford Green
  • Forest School
  • Leytonstone
  • Orford Road
  • Ropers Field
  • Thornhill Road
  • Woodford Green
  • Browning Road
  • Walthamstow Village

6.13.1Article 4 directions mean that permitted development rights are removed within the above areas, and planning permission will be required for works that would typically fall under permitted development.


6.13.2In conservation areas where there is no Article 4 direction, the same criteria for permitted development applies as for properties outside of a conservation area.


6.13.3Residents can find further information about planning permission and permitted development in conservation areas see here.



6.14 Highams Area of Special Character

6.14.1

Waltham Forest has one designated Area of Special Character, which covers the Highams Park Estate.


6.14.2Planning applications that respect and enhance the significance of the Highams Park Estate are favoured here.


6.14.3Since September 2020 there has been an Article 4 Direction for the Highams Area of Special Character. 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.


6.14.4Unlike conservation areas which have an Article 4 direction in place, removing all permitted development rights, properties within the Highams Park Estate still have some permitted development rights.



Further information about the Highams Area of Special Character can be found here.


6.15 Listed Buildings

Local heritage is an essential part of Waltham Forest’s distinctive, rich and varied character. There are two types of listed buildings - statutory listed buildings and locally listed buildings. See here for further information on listed buildings in Waltham Forest.


6.15.1Statutory listed buildings are nationally significant and protected by law. They usually have restricted permitted development rights meaning planning permission will be required for most alterations.


6.15.2Listed building consent is required for any alteration or extension to a statutory listed building that is likely to affect its character as a building of special architectural or historical interest.


6.15.3

Listed building consent is a planning control that protects buildings of special architectural or historical interest. These controls are in addition to any planning regulations which would normally apply.





6.15.4A locally listed, or non-designated, building holds value for the local community and contributes to an area’s character. View our Local Heritage List to find out more about locally listed residential buildings in Waltham Forest.


6.15.5All building works should be designed with regards to nearby listed and locally listed buildings, and potential negative impact to any heritage asset is a material planning condition. This is supported by Policy 70 of the Local Plan, ‘Designated Heritage Assets’ Policy 71, ‘Listed Buildings’, and Policy 74, ‘Non-Designated Heritage Assets’.




6.16 Case study: Rear extension in a Conservation Area

This Victorian terraced home in the Orford Road Conservation Area was transformed by the addition of a rear extension, by Whittaker Parsons Architects. The house was previously dark and cool, and the owners wanted to make the house more energy efficient while adding living space.

A low quality, inefficient extension was removed and replaced with an improved single storey rear extension. The new extension considers orientation and daylight to maximise light at the rear of the house, and the ground floor internal layout was reconfigured to maximise space. The extension was finished in lime render, a highly breathable material.

Damp issues were eliminated, and the house was transformed into a warm, contemporary home, while still respecting and preserving the unique character of the conservation area.


The rear was clad in lime render, while brick was retained on the front elevation (Whittaker Parsons. Photography: Ellen Christina Hancock)

Changes to the front of the house were minimal, to preserve the character of the conservation area (Whittaker Parsons. Photography: Ellen Christina Hancock)


6.11 Character-led design

A variety of housing types can be seen across Waltham Forest. By understanding the historic qualities of housing, we can respect its unique character, while developing and retrofitting homes.

As shown in the map below, distinctive housing types in Waltham Forest include Victorian and Edwardian terraces, Warner housing, Abraham flats and later inter-war developments.


6.11.1When planning an extension or alteration residents should consider the housing type, built form, roofscape, height, materiality and heritage of the surrounding area. This will help to ensure a character-led approach to development, which is supported by Policy 53 of the Local Plan, ‘Delivering High Quality Design’.


6.11.2Building composition and detailing specific to a certain era should be preserved wherever possible, to create distinctive and attractive residential areas throughout the borough.


6.11.3Preserving original building details is of particular importance in conservation areas. This is supported by Policy 72 of the Local Plan, ‘Conservation Areas’.


6.11.4

If a Neighbourhood Plan is in effect in the area where the proposed works will take place, the works should be in conformity with the character assessment or design codes included in the Neighbourhood Plan for that area.


6.11.5

If an Article 4 direction is in place for the area where the proposed works will take place, the works should be in conformity with the planning conditions imposed by Article 4 direction.




Illustration of broad housing types in Waltham Forest (LBWF)


6.12 Conservation areas

There are 15 conservation areas across Waltham Forest, as shown in the map below.

Conservation areas in the north of the borough:

A. Chingford Station Road

B. Chingford Green

C. Ropers Field

D. Woodford Green

Conservation areas in the central borough:

E. Lloyd Park

F. Leucha Road

G. Walthamstow St James

H. Walthamstow Village

I. Orford Road

J. Forest School

Conservation areas in the south of the borough:

K. Bakers Arms

L. Leytonstone

M. Thornhill Road

N. Browning Road

O. Leyton Town Centre


6.12.1Being located in a conservation area can affect what alterations can be made to a home, and whether planning permission will be required. This is supported by Policy 72 of the Local Plan, ‘Conservation Areas’.


6.12.2Residents are advised to check if their home is located in a conservation area here before planning any extensions or alterations.





Map of conservation areas, evenly distributed across Waltham Forest (LBWF)



6.13 Article 4 directions in conservation areas

At the time of publication, there are Article 4 directions in place for the following conservation areas in Waltham Forest:

  • Chingford Green
  • Forest School
  • Leytonstone
  • Orford Road
  • Ropers Field
  • Thornhill Road
  • Woodford Green
  • Browning Road
  • Walthamstow Village

6.13.1Article 4 directions mean that permitted development rights are removed within the above areas, and planning permission will be required for works that would typically fall under permitted development.


6.13.2In conservation areas where there is no Article 4 direction, the same criteria for permitted development applies as for properties outside of a conservation area.


6.13.3Residents can find further information about planning permission and permitted development in conservation areas see here.



6.14 Highams Area of Special Character

6.14.1

Waltham Forest has one designated Area of Special Character, which covers the Highams Park Estate.


6.14.2Planning applications that respect and enhance the significance of the Highams Park Estate are favoured here.


6.14.3Since September 2020 there has been an Article 4 Direction for the Highams Area of Special Character. 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.


6.14.4Unlike conservation areas which have an Article 4 direction in place, removing all permitted development rights, properties within the Highams Park Estate still have some permitted development rights.



Further information about the Highams Area of Special Character can be found here.


6.15 Listed Buildings

Local heritage is an essential part of Waltham Forest’s distinctive, rich and varied character. There are two types of listed buildings - statutory listed buildings and locally listed buildings. See here for further information on listed buildings in Waltham Forest.


6.15.1Statutory listed buildings are nationally significant and protected by law. They usually have restricted permitted development rights meaning planning permission will be required for most alterations.


6.15.2Listed building consent is required for any alteration or extension to a statutory listed building that is likely to affect its character as a building of special architectural or historical interest.


6.15.3

Listed building consent is a planning control that protects buildings of special architectural or historical interest. These controls are in addition to any planning regulations which would normally apply.





6.15.4A locally listed, or non-designated, building holds value for the local community and contributes to an area’s character. View our Local Heritage List to find out more about locally listed residential buildings in Waltham Forest.


6.15.5All building works should be designed with regards to nearby listed and locally listed buildings, and potential negative impact to any heritage asset is a material planning condition. This is supported by Policy 70 of the Local Plan, ‘Designated Heritage Assets’ Policy 71, ‘Listed Buildings’, and Policy 74, ‘Non-Designated Heritage Assets’.




6.16 Case study: Rear extension in a Conservation Area

This Victorian terraced home in the Orford Road Conservation Area was transformed by the addition of a rear extension, by Whittaker Parsons Architects. The house was previously dark and cool, and the owners wanted to make the house more energy efficient while adding living space.

A low quality, inefficient extension was removed and replaced with an improved single storey rear extension. The new extension considers orientation and daylight to maximise light at the rear of the house, and the ground floor internal layout was reconfigured to maximise space. The extension was finished in lime render, a highly breathable material.

Damp issues were eliminated, and the house was transformed into a warm, contemporary home, while still respecting and preserving the unique character of the conservation area.


The rear was clad in lime render, while brick was retained on the front elevation (Whittaker Parsons. Photography: Ellen Christina Hancock)

Changes to the front of the house were minimal, to preserve the character of the conservation area (Whittaker Parsons. Photography: Ellen Christina Hancock)