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England

What needs planning permission in a conservation area

Houses in conservation areas lose some of the permitted development rights other homes have. These are the changes that need planning permission or notice, with the law each rule comes from.

Cladding the outside

Covering any part of the outside in stone, artificial stone, pebble dash, render, timber, plastic or tiles needs planning permission.

GPDO Sch 2 Part 1 A.2(a)

Side extensions

Any extension beyond a side wall of the original house needs planning permission, whatever its size.

GPDO Sch 2 Part 1 A.2(b)

Rear extensions

Extensions of more than one storey at the back need permission. Single storey ones are limited to 3 m deep, or 4 m for a detached house, and 4 m high. The larger home extension scheme does not apply.

GPDO Sch 2 Part 1 A.1(f), A.2(c)

Roof extensions and extra storeys

Dormers and other roof extensions are not permitted development here, and neither is adding storeys on top, so both need planning permission.

GPDO Sch 2 Part 1 B.1(e), AA.1(b)

Sheds and outbuildings

Any outbuilding, enclosure, pool or container between a side wall of the house and the boundary needs planning permission.

GPDO Sch 2 Part 1 E.3

Solar panels

Panels on a wall, balcony or roof enclosure that fronts a road need permission. Roof panels are allowed within the usual size limits. Freestanding panels closer to the road than the house can be up to 2 m high.

GPDO Sch 2 Part 14 Class A

Flues, dishes and antennas

A new chimney, flue or soil pipe on a wall or roof slope that fronts a road and forms the front or side of the house needs permission. So does a dish or antenna on a chimney, wall or roof slope that faces onto and is visible from a road.

GPDO Sch 2 Part 1 G.1(c), H.1(e)

Trees

Give the council 6 weeks written notice before cutting down, lopping or topping a tree with a trunk over 75 mm across at 1.5 m above the ground (100 mm if you are thinning to help other trees grow).

TCPA 1990 s211, SI 2012/605 reg 15

Rules checked against the current legislation on 7 November 2026: GPDO 2015 Schedule 2 Part 1, GPDO 2015 Schedule 2 Part 14, Town and Country Planning Act 1990 s211, Tree Preservation Regulations 2012 reg 15. Guidance, not legal advice.

Listed buildings and Article 4 directions

Any work that changes the character of a listed building, inside or out, needs listed building consent. Work near one can also need extra care in a planning application.

An Article 4 direction removes some permitted development rights in a defined area. Each direction covers only the kinds of work it names, for example windows, doors, porches, painting the front, front walls, basements or changes of use. Read the council's direction to see exactly what this one covers.

Flats do not have most householder permitted development rights to begin with, so most work to flats already needs permission.