Cladding the outside
Covering any outside wall in stone, artificial stone, pebble dash, render, timber, plastic or tiles needs planning permission.
Free · England · Official data
Am I in a
conservation area?
Enter your postcode to see whether your home sits inside a conservation area, close to one, or clear of one. Then drag the pin onto your building for an exact answer.
FreeNo accountTry GL20 5AB
Example result · GL20 5AB
Inside the Tewkesbury conservation area
Tewkesbury Borough Council
- Applies
Article 4 direction
- 50+
Listed buildings within 250 m
- Low
Flood zone at the pin
How to tell if your house is in a conservation area
Conservation areas are designated by your local planning authority. Each council keeps a list and usually a map, often alongside a conservation area appraisal. This checker reads the national dataset that collects those boundaries, so you can see the answer and the boundary on one map in a few seconds.
Why it matters before you start work
Houses in a conservation area have fewer permitted development rights. Work that is allowed elsewhere, such as dormers, side extensions or cladding, needs planning permission here. Trees are protected too, and some demolition needs permission. Knowing early saves you from paying for plans or work you then cannot use.
When the answer is close to the edge
A postcode covers several homes, so the first pin sits at its centre. If the result says a boundary is nearby, move the pin onto your building. Boundaries follow property lines and streets, so the house next door can be on the other side.
What needs planning permission in a conservation area
Side extensions
Any extension beyond a side wall of the house needs planning permission, whatever its size.
Rear extensions
Extensions of more than one storey at the back need permission. Single storey ones are capped at 3 m deep, or 4 m for a detached house.
Roof extensions
Dormers and other roof extensions are not permitted development here, so they need planning permission.
Sheds and outbuildings
Any outbuilding, enclosure or pool between a side wall of the house and the boundary needs planning permission.
Solar panels
Panels on a wall that fronts a road or path need permission, and so do freestanding panels placed closer to the road than the house.
Satellite dishes and antennas
Fitting one on a chimney, wall or roof slope that faces onto and is visible from a road needs permission.
Trees
You must give the council 6 weeks notice before cutting down, lopping or topping a tree with a trunk over 75 mm across at 1.5 m above the ground.
Demolition
Knocking down most buildings, and some walls, gates and fences, needs planning permission.
Questions
Will my estate agent or solicitor tell me?
Local searches made during a purchase normally show whether a property is in a conservation area, but that comes late in the process. Checking early helps you plan work before you commit.
Can a conservation area be created after I move in?
Yes. Councils can designate new conservation areas or change boundaries. The national data is updated as councils publish changes, so check again before major work.
Does being in a conservation area change my council tax or insurance?
Designation itself does not change council tax. Some insurers ask about it, and repairs may need traditional materials, so it is worth mentioning when you get quotes.