Kingston upon Thames
Planning & Building Contacts

Around 30 conservation areas include the historic Kingston town centre, Surbiton, New Malden and Chessington. Green Belt covers the southern parts of the borough including the Hogsmill Valley SSSI. Kingston town centre is a Major Metropolitan Centre with active regeneration and tall building potential in identified locations. The Thames riverside generates specific planning considerations. The Ancient Market Place and its surroundings have special historic significance.

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.

Kingston's Ancient Coronation Stone (scheduled monument) where seven Anglo-Saxon kings were crowned is the borough's most significant historic artefact. The Market House (Grade II*) and the All Saints parish church (Grade II*) anchor the historic town centre. Claremont Fan Court School (Grade I landscape, Vanbrugh and others) is within the borough. Around 30 conservation areas protect a wide range of historic environments from the medieval town centre to Victorian suburbs. 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.

Significant Thames flood risk affects Kingston town centre and riverside - much of the riverside area lies within Flood Zones 2 and 3. The River Hogsmill (entering the Thames at Kingston) also creates local flood risk. A Flood Risk Assessment is required for development in these zones. The borough is Lead Local Flood Authority for ordinary watercourses and surface water flooding.