Planning Policy

Porch in Lewisham

Do you need planning permission for a porch in Lewisham? Here is what the permitted development rules say, how London Borough of Lewisham’s designations change them, and what decides an application — grounded in the official guidance, quoted verbatim.

The short answer

Do you need planning permission for a porch in Lewisham?

A porch is usually permitted development under Class D if it stays under 3 square metres, below 3 metres high, and at least 2 metres from any boundary fronting a highway. Whether a porch needs permission in Lewisham still depends on your exact address and the designations on it.

1.0 — The permitted development position

The starting point

A porch is usually permitted development under Class D if it stays under 3 square metres, below 3 metres high, and at least 2 metres from any boundary fronting a highway.

This provides permitted development rights for the erection of a porch outside any external door of a house.PD technical guidance, Class D · full text in the library → · official source →
2.0 — What changes it in Lewisham

How Lewisham’s designations apply

Designation in LewishamPublished
Conservation areas30
Article 4 directions (PD removed)89
Listed building outlines364

In a conservation area or on a listed building the appearance against the front elevation is assessed, even where the size limits are met. Counts are read live from planning.data.gov.uk; your report checks them against your exact address.

3.0 — How it’s decided

What Lewisham weighs

In a conservation area or on a listed building the appearance against the front elevation is assessed, even where the size limits are met.

As a London borough, London Borough of Lewisham also decides against the London Plan 2021 — the strategic policy layer for all 33 boroughs — alongside national policy and its own Local Plan.

Your report

Get a planning report for your Lewisham address

A Planning Policy report reads the designations on your exact Lewisham address, quotes the London Borough of Lewisham and national policies that apply to a porch, and — on Pro — shows decided applications nearby with outcomes.

5.0 — Questions

Porch in Lewisham, answered

Do I need planning permission for a porch in Lewisham?
A porch is usually permitted development under Class D if it stays under 3 square metres, below 3 metres high, and at least 2 metres from any boundary fronting a highway. Whether a porch needs permission in Lewisham still depends on your exact address and the designations on it.
Does a conservation area affect a porch in Lewisham?
It can. Even where the size limits are met, London Borough of Lewisham assesses the appearance of a porch against the character of a conservation area, and on a listed building separate consent is required.
How does Lewisham decide a porch application?
In a conservation area or on a listed building the appearance against the front elevation is assessed, even where the size limits are met. A Planning Policy report quotes the specific London Borough of Lewisham Local Plan and national policies that apply, verbatim, and shows decided applications nearby.
6.0 — More for Lewisham

Other projects in Lewisham