What conservation area rules actually mean for your home
There are around 10,000 conservation areas in England. Being in one does not stop you building, but it removes several permitted development rights automatically.
What a conservation area is
A conservation area is an area of special architectural or historic interest whose character or appearance it is desirable to preserve or enhance. Local councils designate them under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990.
The important thing to understand is that the designation applies to every property inside the boundary, listed or not, old or new. A 1990s infill house in a Georgian conservation area is subject to the same rules as the Georgian houses around it.
Permitted development rights you lose automatically
These restrictions apply the moment an area is designated. No further action by the council is needed.
- Cladding the exterior of a house is not permitted development.
- Rear extensions of more than one storey are not permitted development.
- Side extensions are not permitted development.
- Roof extensions and dormers visible from a highway are not permitted development.
- Satellite dishes on elevations fronting a highway are not permitted development.
- Outbuildings forward of the side elevation of the original house are restricted.
A single storey rear extension can still be permitted development in a conservation area, provided it meets all the usual conditions.
Article 4 directions
Councils can remove further permitted development rights in a specific area using an Article 4 direction. This is where conservation areas differ sharply from one another, and where general advice stops being useful.
Common things removed by Article 4 directions include:
- Changing windows or doors
- Changing roofing materials
- Painting exterior surfaces
- Altering or removing boundary walls, railings and gates
- Installing solar panels
There is no national register of what each direction covers. You have to ask your local planning authority which directions apply to your street. This is a short phone call or email and it is worth doing before you design anything.
Trees are protected too
Before you cut down, top, lop or uproot any tree in a conservation area, you must give the council six weeks' notice. This is a Section 211 notice in England.
It applies to any tree with a trunk diameter of 75mm or more, measured at 1.5 metres above ground. During those six weeks the council can decide to make a Tree Preservation Order to protect the tree permanently.
Dead trees, dangerous trees and trees under 75mm are exempt. Failing to give notice is a criminal offence. There is no fee for the notice or for a TPO consent application.
Demolition
In England, substantial or total demolition of a building in a conservation area needs planning permission. Conservation area consent was abolished as a separate process in October 2013 and folded into planning permission. Wales and Scotland still have a separate conservation area consent regime.
This catches outbuildings and boundary walls as well as houses, so check before you take anything down.
How applications get judged
Applications in conservation areas are assessed against the duty to preserve or enhance the character and appearance of the area. In practice that means materials, proportions, scale, detailing and siting all get more scrutiny than they would elsewhere.
Most councils publish a conservation area appraisal describing what makes the area special. It is usually a free PDF on the council website, and reading it before you design is the cheapest thing you can do to improve your chances. If the appraisal says the area is characterised by timber sash windows, an application for uPVC casements is not going to go well.
Are you in a conservation area?
casaQ checks your postcode against conservation area boundaries, listed building records and flood zones, and explains what each one means for your project.
Check your address freeCommon questions
Does being in a conservation area mean my house is listed?
No. They are completely separate. Conservation area status applies to an area, listing applies to a specific building. You can be in one, both, or neither.
Can I still build an extension in a conservation area?
Yes. A single storey rear extension can still be permitted development. Anything larger, or a side extension, or a visible roof extension, will need planning permission rather than being automatically banned.
Can I replace my windows in a conservation area?
If there is no Article 4 direction covering windows, replacing windows on a non-listed house is often still permitted development. If an Article 4 direction applies, you need planning permission, and the council will usually expect a match to the original design and material.
Can I put up solar panels?
Often yes, but panels on a wall or roof slope fronting a highway are more restricted in a conservation area, and some Article 4 directions remove the right entirely. Check with your council first.
How do I find out if I am in a conservation area?
Most councils publish an interactive constraints map. You can also check a conveyancing search, or enter your postcode into casaQ, which checks the boundary data for you.