Newham
Planning & Building Contacts

The LLDC planning area covers Stratford and the Olympic Park - separate from the London Borough of Newham's planning authority area. The Royal Docks is a major Enterprise Zone with specific planning policies for employment-led development and residential. Major flood risk from the tidal Thames and River Lee affects large parts of the borough. Around 20 conservation areas exist. West Ham United's London Stadium is within the LLDC area.

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.

Newham has relatively few listed buildings compared to inner London boroughs, reflecting its predominantly late 19th and early 20th century industrial and residential development. The Three Mills complex (Grade II* listed) at Bromley-by-Bow is the most significant heritage asset - a rare survival of a tidal mill complex now used as a film studio. St Mary Magdalene Church, East Ham (Grade I, largely Norman) is the borough's oldest listed building. Around 20 conservation areas protect historic residential streets. 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 tidal flood risk from the Thames and River Lee affects significant areas of Newham. The borough sits at low elevation and large areas lie within Flood Zone 3. The Royal Docks themselves are a managed tidal impoundment. A Flood Risk Assessment is required for development in flood risk zones and should address both tidal and fluvial risk. The Thames Estuary 2100 Plan sea level projections are particularly relevant here.