Conservation areas are designated by local planning authorities to protect the character and appearance of areas of special architectural or historic interest. Living in a conservation area does not prevent you from altering or improving your home, but it does impose additional restrictions on certain types of work that would otherwise be permitted development outside conservation areas.

Is My Property in a Conservation Area?

The most reliable way to find out whether your property is in a conservation area is to check with your local planning authority. Most councils publish interactive maps on their websites that show designated conservation areas overlaid on a street map, allowing you to search by postcode or address and see immediately whether your property falls within a designated boundary.

You can also check using the Planning Portal's interactive map tool, which draws together planning data from local authorities across England. Searching by postcode and selecting the planning constraints layer will show conservation area boundaries where they have been uploaded by the relevant council.

For properties in England, the Historic England website also provides information on conservation areas, and many local authority websites have specific conservation area appraisals that describe the character and boundaries of each designated area in detail.

How Conservation Area Status Affects Your Permitted Development Rights

Within a conservation area, several types of work that would be permitted development elsewhere require a planning application. The key restrictions that affect residential properties include the following.

Cladding the exterior of a house in any material, including stone, render, artificial stone, pebble dash, timber, or tiles, requires planning permission in a conservation area, whereas outside a conservation area it is generally permitted development. Side extensions require planning permission in a conservation area regardless of size. Roof alterations, including dormer windows, require planning permission in a conservation area when they face a highway. Satellite dishes visible from a highway require planning permission.

These restrictions are in addition to any that apply universally, such as the requirement for planning permission for extensions that exceed the permitted development limits that apply to all properties.

Trees in Conservation Areas

One of the most significant practical implications of conservation area status for many homeowners is the protection afforded to trees. Any tree with a trunk diameter of more than 75mm measured at 1.5 metres from the ground in a conservation area is protected. Before carrying out any works to such a tree, including pruning or felling, you must give the local planning authority six weeks' written notice. The authority can use this period to make a Tree Preservation Order if they consider the tree to be of sufficient amenity value to warrant formal protection.

Demolition in Conservation Areas

Demolishing a building or substantial part of a building in a conservation area requires Conservation Area Consent from the local planning authority, even if the building is not listed. This protects the character of the area by preventing the loss of buildings that contribute to its appearance without planning scrutiny.

Summary

You can find out whether your property is in a conservation area by checking your local council's interactive planning map, the Planning Portal, or by contacting the planning department directly. Conservation area status restricts certain permitted development rights, particularly for exterior cladding, side extensions, roof alterations, and satellite dishes, and imposes notification requirements for tree works. Understanding your conservation area status before planning any works to your home is essential to ensure you apply for the right consents.