Information and advice on conservation areas

Within conservation areas the council has control over certain forms of development:

• Demolition: buildings, outhouses, structures exceeding 115m3 should not be demolished without consent
• Trees: within conservation areas trees are afforded automatic protection. The Council must be given 6 weeks notice to remove or carry out works to a tree
• New development is expected to be of a high quality design that reflects the scale and character of the surrounding area and should make a positive contribution to the areas character
• Local authorities may exercise greater control by removing permitted development rights within conservation areas by introducing an article 4 direction

The Conservation Area Guidance leaflet explains what a Conservation Area is and how the designation or extension of one affects those who live there. The aim is to provide general guidance and advice on the type of works that normally require planning permission as a result of designation.

Permitted Development Rights
The principal differences for conservation areas as against normal areas are:

Dwelling houses
(a) it would consist of or include the cladding of any part of the exterior of the dwelling house with stone, artificial stone, pebble dash, render, timber, plastic or tiles

(b) the enlarged part of the dwelling house would extend beyond a wall forming a side elevation of the original dwelling house; or

(c) the enlarged part of the dwelling house would have more than one storey and extend beyond the rear wall of the original dwelling house

(d) the enlargement of a dwelling house consisting of an addition or alteration to its roof

(e) the installation, alteration or replacement of a chimney, flue or soil and vent pipe either fronting a highway or on a principal or side elevation

(f) the installation of a microwave antenna on a chimney, wall or roof slope which faces on to, and is visible from, a highway

(g) no permitted development for building enclosures, pools or containers on land between a side elevation and boundary

Solar Panels
In the case of land within conservation area or which is a World Heritage Site, the solar PV or solar thermal equipment would be installed:

(i) on a wall or roof slope forming the principal or side elevation of the dwelling house and would be visible from a highway; or

(ii) on a wall or roof slope of a building within the curtilage of the dwelling house and would be visible from a highway

Industrial and Warehouse Buildings
Permitted development rights only extend to increases of up to 10 % of the volume of the original building or 500 square metres to its aggregate floor space, as against 25% and 1,000 square metres respectively.

The Listed buildings page provides further information and advice.

The Historic parks and gardens page provides information and advice.