Every council in England works to its own local plan, and Lewisham’s stands out for how targeted its restrictions are. Around 29 conservation areas cover the borough’s most architecturally significant streets, including Blackheath and Brockley, but the Article 4 Directions within them typically restrict only what’s visible from public viewpoints, meaning front elevations are protected while rear alterations often remain more flexible. A separate borough-wide Article 4 Direction covers HMO conversions across Bellingham, Downham and Grove Park in the south of the borough, unrelated to conservation status. BetterLivingSpace checks conservation area boundaries and the relevant Article 4 provisions for every Lewisham property individually, so nothing we produce is generic and every proposal is built around what actually applies to that address.