Conservation Area No. 11 - Tower Gardens

The Tower Gardens Conservation Area is in the north east of the borough between Wood Green to the west and Tottenham to the south-east. Its southern boundary runs along Lordship Lane, whilst its western and northern boundaries extend as far as The Roundway in parts, but not including where the Great Cambridge Road (A10) turns off it. It covers an area of approximately 94.5 hectares and shares part of its west boundary with the adjoining Peabody Cottages Conservation Area to the east.

The Conservation Area comprises the oldest parts of the estate, built by the London County Council between 1904 and 1913. It is one of the first "garden suburbs" in the world and is characterised by good quality and practical buildings that show an inventive use of materials and vernacular motifs typical of the Arts and Crafts Movement. Along with Hampstead Garden Suburb (see external links section), Tower Gardens is one of the most important estates of its type in London.

More information can be found on our History of Tower Gardens web page.

Conservation Area Map

The extent of the Tower Gardens Conservation Area is shown in the map above. A large PDF of the map can be downloaded from the attached files section at the bottom of this page. Please note this file may be large and take some time to download.

You can also view a map of the conservation area, along with other Planning Designations (including other Heritage Designations such as Statutorily Listed and Locally Listed Buildings) on the Interactive Haringey Map (opens in a new window).

Designation

The Tower Gardens Conservation Area was first designated on 22 September 1978. It was extended on 16 September 1991 to include part of The Roundway, Gospatrick Road, Henningham Road and Morteyne Road.

The Tower Gardens Estate Repair and Conservation Guide was produced on 30 November 1997 and adopted as Supplementary Planning Guidance Document 3.1. Although it is no longer referenced and supported by our current planning policy documents (see the Local Development Framework page), it still contains very good and valid design guidance and can be downloaded from the attached files section below. The earlier 1982 document is also available below and it also contains good and valid design guidance.

Conservation Advice for Tower Gardens Residents

Important information relating to properties within the Article 4 Direction Area

When Haringey Council designated the Tower Gardens Conservation Area in 1978, the quality of the area was further protected by the formal approval by the Secretary of State of an Article 4 Direction, where even minor alterations to roofs, walls, windows and forecourts require express consent from the Council.

Our Conservation Officer can advise any owner or tenant on the Tower Gardens Estate, with advice relating to minor changes to their houses. A guide with important information relating to properties within the Article 4 Direction Area was produced in 2003 and can be downloaded from the attached files section below. The essential information for residents and property owners has been summarised and updated in the following list.

Residents and property owners are asked to remember:

• removal of original fabric such as doors, windows, ironwork, porches or other features without planning permission is a criminal offence and there is no time limit for prosecution
• external painting is subject to control. This does not prevent redecoration of windows and joinery in the same colour. Painting brickwork damages the bricks and is not permitted. Changing paint colours of one house can upset the uniform colour of a row or terrace or similar properties. The render colours are as originally specified by the LCC architects over ninety years ago
• satellite dishes are not permitted on the front walls of houses. If you want to install a dish you must consult the Planning Service first
• edges in front gardens, where they exist, were part of the original design of the estate. Hedges must not be removed
• the removal of front garden walls and the introduction of hard car parking surfaces is subject to planning control on the estate and will not be permitted.
• exterior cladding in any form is not permitted
• roofs are either slates or plain clay tiles; repairs to match are permitted but they should not be replaced in different materials.

For further information, contact:

Planning and Regeneration Service,
Haringey Council,
639 High Road,
London,
N17 8BD

Tel 020 8489 1479

Attached Files

Useful External Links

The following links are not part of the Haringey Council website. Please read our legal disclaimer before using these links

• Tottenham Civic Society
• Tower Gardens Residents' Association
• Hampstead Garden Suburb - Barnet Council Planning
• Hampstead Garden Suburb Trust
• Hampstead Garden Suburb - community website