Worthing Lifestyle May - Jun 2021

BUILDING IN A
CONSERVATION
AREA
Just because your home
is not listed, does not
mean there might be
restrictions in place from
Conservation Area laws.
Here the HomeOwners
Alliance tell us what
we should be aware
of if planning home
improvements which may
fall outside of permitted
development...
WHAT IS A CONSERVATION
AREA?
These are designated areas of historic
and architectural interest in which there
are legal restrictions on what changes
can be made to buildings, greenery and
street furniture in order to preserve the
unique character of the place. The first
conservation areas were established in
1967 and now there are around 10,000 in
the UK including estates, parks, stretches
of canal, historic town centres and some
entire villages.
The precise restrictions on what you can
do will vary according to the rules set
by your local authority and the nature
of the area they are trying to protect.
For example in some areas the rules
might prevent changes to railings, street
lighting, trees, windows, right down to the
colour of paint that residents are allowed
to use on their front doors.
WHAT ARE THE PLANNING RE-
STRICTIONS FOR HOMES IN A
CONSERVATION AREA?
Local authorities place extra restrictions
on properties within conservation areas
known as ‘Article 4 Directions’. These
limit the changes that home owners
would otherwise be able to make to their
properties under their normal ‘permitted
development rights’. These rights govern
the home improvements that property
owners are usually allowed to make
without requiring planning permission.
If you live in a conservation area, these
automatic rights are more limited.
You should speak to your local planning
authority and look on its website in order
to find out what specific restrictions apply
to the conservation area that you live in.
However the general rules are that you
cannot, without permission, demolish:
• A building that is more than 115
cubic metres
• A gate, wall or fence that is over 1
metre if it borders the road or higher
than 2 metres if not.
You would also need permission for the
following alterations
• A single storey extensions that
extend more than 3 metres beyond
the back wall of the house or 4
metres if the house is detached
• Extensions greater than one storey
“Local authorities place extra restrictions on
properties within conservation areas known as
‘Article 4 Directions’. These limit the changes that
home owners would otherwise be able to make to
their properties under their normal ‘permitted
development rights’.”
• Side extensions
• Roof extensions or alterations
• Cladding in any material
• Any new construction of sheds,
outbuildings, swimming pools.
• The installation of chimneys, flues
or vents at the front of the house or
at the side if it faces the road
• Installing satellite dishes or
antennae that face the road.
• Fitting solar panels to the front
of the roof facing the street than
150mm from the roof slope.
• Fitting solar panels that protrude by
more than 150mm from the roof
In addition your local authority may
have imposed specific rules on the
conservation area that you live in so it
is vital to check these. Such rules could
prevent you from:
• Replacing original windows or
doors
• Altering the guttering or pipes
• Felling trees or shrubs
• Painting the facade or changing the
colour of window frames and doors
WHERE CAN I GET ADVICE
ON CARRYING OUT BUILDING
WORK WITHOUT BREAKING
THE RULES?
Speak to your local planning authority at
an early stage and talk through your plans
to find out if they are likely to require
planning permission. If you do need to
apply for permission, you could get your
builder, architect or a planning consultant
to submit an application on your behalf.
Find out more at www.hoa.org.uk
16 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk