Havering
Planning & Building Contacts

Around 20 conservation areas include Hornchurch village, Upminster and Havering-atte-Bower. Green Belt covers the eastern parishes almost entirely. Rainham Marshes (RSPB, SSSI) and the Thames Estuary create significant ecological and flood risk constraints. The London Riverside Opportunity Area covers parts of Rainham for employment-led regeneration. Romford town centre regeneration is an ongoing priority. Havering has the highest proportion of suburban semi-detached housing in London.

Building regulations approval is required for most structural work, extensions, loft conversions, new windows and heating system changes. You may use either the council's own building control service or a private Approved Inspector. For listed buildings, building control must be coordinated with Listed Building Consent requirements.

Upminster Windmill (Grade II*) and Upminster Tithe Barn (Grade II*) are the borough's most distinctive heritage assets. Havering-atte-Bower has a rare surviving village green setting in outer East London. Around 20 conservation areas protect historic village cores and inter-war suburban streets. The borough has relatively few listed buildings compared to the rest of London, reflecting its predominantly 20th century development pattern. Listed Building Consent is required in addition to planning permission for any works to a listed building that would affect its special architectural or historic interest, including internal works.

Extensive flood risk from the tidal Thames affects Rainham and South Hornchurch significantly - much of this area lies within Flood Zone 3. The Rivers Rom and Thames create local flood risk in Romford and Rainham. A Flood Risk Assessment is required for development in flood risk zones. Contaminated land from former industrial uses in the Rainham corridor also requires site investigation for development.