LPA: Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
Kensington and Chelsea Heritage Statement Requirements
Reviewed by
Oliver Wakefield-Smith
Founder, Digital Signet
Last reviewed 22 June 2026 · Refreshed quarterly
Direct answer
What does Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea require?
Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea validates heritage submissions under RBKC Local Plan 2024 policy CL3 (heritage) plus the 38 individual Conservation Area Proposals Statements. The following checklist card summarises accepted formats, page-count guidance and common validation traps for this authority.
Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea validation checklist
RBKC Local Plan 2024 policy CL3 (heritage) plus the 38 individual Conservation Area Proposals Statements.
Accepted formats
- Statement of Heritage Significance for minor Grade II
- Full HIA for Grade II* and any external stucco works
- TVIA for tall-building or strategic-view interaction
Page-count guidance
Typical 10 to 20 pages for Grade II; 25+ for Grade II*.
Common validation traps
- Missing the RBKC stucco-detailing prescriptions
- Failure to address fenestration patterns (sash horns, glazing-bar profile)
- Inadequate setting assessment for Albertopolis views
Practical preparation steps
- Download the LPA's current local validation list before any submission.
- Read the relevant Conservation Area Appraisal or Statement for the site.
- Check for any Article 4 directions affecting the site.
- Where pre-application advice is available, take it , even where charged.
- Match the accreditation of the author to the asset grade (RIBA-CA or IHBC for Grade II* and Grade I).
Where the LPA's heritage process sits in the planning clock
The LPA's heritage officer is a statutory consultee within the 8-week determination clock for planning permission, the 8-week clock for listed-building consent, and the 16-week clock for major applications. The officer's response is usually written within 21 days of consultation; a strong HIA accelerates that response and reduces the risk of a Regulation 25 further-information request.