Archaeology, Heritage & Conservation

Conservation areas and planning permission

Permitted development rights are stricter for properties within conservation areas. This means that you may need to apply for planning permission for certain types of work which do not need an application elsewhere. This could include making alterations to the roof, satellite dishes and cladding.

Please contact us for advice on whether or not you need to make a planning application, or use the interactive house on the Planning Portal.

Contact our planning team

You can find conservation areas plus access a range of really useful information about the area you live in, just by entering your postcode on My Central Bedfordshire. This also allows you to see the ward you live in, your local councillor, planning applications around you and a lot more.

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Permitted development - Article 4 Directions

Some conservation areas have Article 4 Directions. This means that planning permission is required for all householder development. The following conservation areas have Article 4 Directions:

  • Toddington
  • Husborne Crawley

Demolition

Conservation area consent is required for the demolition in whole or part of most buildings and structures, including walls and outhouses. If you are thinking about the demolition of a building, please contact us for advice.

In a conservation area you would need planning permission for:

  • the total or substantial demolition of an unlisted building with a cubic content of more than 115 cubic metres (measured externally)
  • demolition of a gate, wall, fence or other means of enclosure which is higher than 1 metre if abutting a highway, or higher than 2 metres

It is an offence to carry out such demolition without planning permission

Alterations/extensions to houses

In a conservation area you would need planning permission for the following works carried out to a house:

  • single storey extensions that extend more than 3 metres beyond the back wall of the house (or 4 metres in the case of a detached house)
  • extensions at the back of a house with more than one storey
  • any extensions at the side of a house
  • additions, alterations or extensions to roofs
  • cladding any part of the house with stone, render, timber, tiles, or another material
  • the construction of buildings (e.g. sheds) containers (e.g. tanks) or enclosures (e.g. swimming pools) within the grounds of a house, between the side of the house and the boundary
  • the installation of chimneys, flues or vents on the main (front) elevation of a house, or on a side elevation fronting a highway
  • the installation of satellite dishes or antennae on a chimney, wall or roof slope where it is visible from a highway, or on a building that is taller than 15 metres
  • installation of roof lights or solar panels that would protrude more than 150mm from the roof slope
  • the installation of solar panels on a wall which fronts a highway

Alterations to windows and doors and painting the outside of a house do not require planning permission unless there is an Article 4 Direction in place, provided that materials and appearance area similar to those of the original construction.

Flats do not have any permitted development rights so permission is required for all works that are not like-for-like replacements or that might change the appearance of the building. This includes changes to the windows.

Works to trees

In a conservation area, trees are also protected. You will need permission if you wish to fell, lop, top or uproot trees within a conservation area, you must give us 6 weeks' notice in writing. It is an offence to carry out the work during those 6 weeks without our consent. This is called a Section 211 notice. There are some exceptions. A notice is not required for:

  • works to a tree that is less than 75mm in diameter (measured 1.5 metres above ground level)
  • the cutting down or uprooting of a tree that is less than 100mm in diameter, for the sole purpose of improving the growth of other trees
  • works to dead trees and branches; five days notice is required for work on dead or dying trees. The removal of dead branches from a living tree is allowed without notice
  • works on dangerous tree branches to remove a safety risk; these can be carried out without notice, with written notice given as soon as possible thereafter
  • work to prevent a tree from causing damage (for example to buildings)

Read more and make an application

Changes of use and temporary uses

In a conservation area, you would need permission for:

  • change of use from shops (A1) or financial or professional services (A2) to use as a dwelling house (C3)
  • change of use from shops (A1) or financial or professional services (A2) to assembly and leisure (D2), for example use as a cinema

Non-domestic extensions and alterations

In a conservation area, you would need permission for:

  • extensions in materials that would not have a similar appearance to that of the original building
  • extensions or additional buildings above a certain size, or (in the case of a shop) within 2 metres of the boundary
  • alterations to existing shops or offices
  • the erection of collection facilities or modifications to loading bays within the boundary of a shop
  • developments at waste management facilities