Planning permission in Greenwich isn't a simple yes or no — it's a calculation that shifts depending on your street, your property's history, and constraints you may not even know exist. Most homeowners assume the rules are borough-wide and consistent. They're not, and that assumption is what gets applications refused.
The short version
- Greenwich has a UNESCO World Heritage Site that triggers stricter rules near Maritime Greenwich
- Conservation areas, listed buildings, and flood zones create overlapping constraints that vary street by street
- Approval odds for your project depend on your specific combination of constraints — not just the general rules
The best starting point is to find out what planning constraints actually apply to your address — free, in about a minute, because in Greenwich, the gap between what you think applies and what actually applies can be significant.
The UNESCO factor changes everything near Maritime Greenwich
Greenwich is one of very few London boroughs with a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and that designation doesn't just affect the Royal Naval College itself. Article 2(3) designated land rules extend across a wider area, and if your property falls within or near that boundary, standard permitted development allowances are significantly curtailed. Most homeowners in SE10 don't realise their property might be caught by this until after they've started planning their project.
Beyond the WHS, there are conservation areas at Blackheath, Charlton Village, and Eltham — each with its own character appraisal and design expectations. Being inside a conservation area boundary changes what you can do without permission and what you can't. Being on the edge of one creates a different set of questions. And the boundaries aren't always obvious from the street.
Listed buildings, flood zones, and the Thames frontage
Listed buildings are concentrated around the Royal Naval College and Greenwich Park, but listed status can affect neighbouring properties too — not just the building itself. If your home is near a listed structure, your application may be assessed against a higher bar without you realising it.
For properties along the Thames frontage, flood zone designation adds another layer. SE18 and the riverfront stretches of SE10 carry flood risk considerations that influence what gets approved and on what terms. This isn't just about whether your ground floor might flood — it shapes what the council will and won't permit structurally.
Don't assume your street is straightforward
Two houses on the same road can face completely different constraint profiles. One might sit inside a conservation area boundary, the other just outside. One might be curtilage-listed, the other not. The only way to know is to check your specific address.
Why your neighbour's approved project isn't a reliable guide
This is the mistake that catches people out most often. A rear extension approved two doors down doesn't mean yours will be. The council looks at each application on its own merits, and your property's specific constraint mix — heritage setting, Article 4 directions, flood zone, neighbour relationships — all feed into that assessment. What matters isn't just what was approved nearby, but why it was approved, and whether those same conditions apply to your plot.
The best way to get a real picture of your odds is to see what's been approved and refused on your street and why it matters for your project — because precedent cuts both ways, and knowing the pattern is far more useful than guessing.
Greenwich's approval landscape is genuinely complex. The £548 application fee is the least of your concerns if you submit something that was never going to pass. Before you commit to drawings, surveys, or a planning consultant, check your property's full constraint picture and what it means for your approval odds — no signup needed.
Want a detailed planning report?
Get a personalised report covering constraints, precedents, and approval odds for your project.
See a sample report