If you’re looking for an architect in Blackheath or Greenwich who understands listed buildings, conservation areas and how the local planning departments think, you’re in the right place.
E2’s founder and director, Sam Cooper, grew up in Blackheath and has worked across the area for his entire career. Sam is a RIBA Accredited Conservation Architect, one of only a small number in the UK, and has secured listed building consent and planning permission across some of the most sensitive sites in the borough. This includes projects other architects had struggled to get through.
Blackheath sits within the oldest and largest conservation area in the UK, spanning both the Royal Borough of Greenwich and the London Borough of Lewisham. Greenwich itself contains a UNESCO World Heritage Site, centred on Christopher Wren’s Naval College and the Old Royal Observatory.
That means two councils, overlapping conservation designations, and planning officers who expect applicants to understand the significance of what they’re proposing to change before they’ve even submitted.
This area needs a listed building and heritage Architect who understands ‘why’ a particular chimney stack, boundary wall or roofline matters to a conservation officer, and how to design around it rather than against it.
That’s the gap E2 fills. We don’t see heritage as a constraint to work around. We see it as the starting point for a better design.
Blackheath and Greenwich hold some of the most significant heritage architecture in the country. The area spans the Tudor grandeur of Charlton House, the work of Inigo Jones and Christopher Wren, fine examples of Georgian and Victorian housing, the Span houses of the Cator Estate, and a wide range of post-war modernism – right through to contemporary new build homes and extensions today.
Working within this context isn’t about copying the past. It’s about understanding what makes a building or street significant and finding a contemporary design that respects that story while making the building work properly for how you live now.
E2 are the retained heritage architects for Morden College and have negotiated listed building consent and planning permission for private clients and organisations across renovations, extensions and new build homes throughout the area.
We know the local planning departments, the conservation officers, and the local societies and groups invested in the area’s future. That relationship-level knowledge is often the difference between a scheme that stalls at pre-application and one that moves through smoothly — because the conversation starts from a position of trust and track record, not a cold submission.
Find out more about Listed Building & Conservation architecture →
Sam Cooper is lead consultant on your project from first conversation to completion.
We explore every viable option before recommending a direction, so you get the return on investment you’re actually looking for.
We add lasting value to your property – not just square footage, but everyday liveability and long-term flexibility.
To see our full list of guarantees please download our Value Add and Homemaker’s Promises.
> Do I need planning permission to extend a listed building in Blackheath or Greenwich?
Yes. Any alteration that affects the character of a listed building - inside or out — needs listed building consent, and often planning permission as well. This applies even to works that wouldn't normally need permission on an unlisted property, such as changing windows or internal layouts. An experienced conservation architect will identify what's needed before you start, not after. You can find out more about planning permission and listed building consent in our blog.
> How long does listed building consent take in Greenwich or Lewisham?
A straightforward application typically takes a few months once submitted, though more sensitive sites or those requiring pre-application advice can take longer. Good early engagement with the conservation officer usually shortens the process, since it reduces the chance of objections once the application is formally lodged.
> Does E2 work on Grade II listed buildings, or only Grade I?
Both. We work across Grade I, Grade II* and Grade II listed buildings, along with unlisted properties in conservation areas. Most of our Blackheath and Greenwich projects are Grade II, which cover the majority of the area's period housing.
> What areas does E2 cover around Blackheath and Greenwich?
Our work spans Blackheath, Blackheath Park, Greenwich, Westcombe Park, Vanbrugh Park and the Cator Estate, along with the wider conservation areas across the Royal Borough of Greenwich and the London Borough of Lewisham.
> What happens at an Architect Home Visit?
Sam visits your property in person to understand how you live, what's frustrating you about the current space, and what the building itself will and won't allow. Many of our best design ideas come out of this conversation, sketched around the kitchen table rather than arrived at later on a drawing board. There's no obligation, and it's the fastest way to find out what's realistically possible on your site.
Ready to Talk About Your Project?
If you’re weighing up architects for a listed building or conservation area project in Blackheath or Greenwich, a short call is usually the fastest way to find out where you stand.
Contact Us
Join our newsletter for planning tips, project inspiration and heritage insights.
