Change is controlled in conservation areas in order to maintain the area's special character & appearance. Conservation Area Consent is required for the demolition of most buildings and some structures.
- Planning Permission is needed for extensions and alterations.
- In conservation areas trees with trunk diameters over 75mm are protected. The Council must be notified in writing 6 weeks in advance of any intended tree work unless the trees are dead, dying or dangerous. In such cases a replacement tree must be planted.
As a general rule, the "thresholds" by which permission is required are lower in Conservation Areas, and lower for Listed Buildings. Given that conducting unauthorised works to a Listed Building is a criminal offence, we strongly advise contacting us before commencing any works. Even cleaning a listed building can require permission, if certain chemicals are used.
Both of these application types attract no fee, and are often needed in addition to planning permission.
If you live in a Conservation Area and are doing pretty much anything other than the part or whole demolition of your home, you will not need Conservation Area Consent, just Planning Permission.
If you are thinking of making one of these types of application, amongst the usual requirements for drawings etc we also require a "Design and Access Statement". This document sets out the design principles and concepts that have been applied to the development - i.e. relating to the amount, layout, scale, landscaping and appearance of the development, and how the design of the development looks compared with other buildings in the area.
Please contact us using the details below when contemplating any significant changes within a conservation area.
