Extensions in Conservation Areas: What You Can Build
Living in a conservation area does not mean you cannot extend — it means the rules are different. Some PD rights are reduced, and the council applies stricter design standards. This guide explains what you can and cannot do.
Reduced PD rights in conservation areas
Reduced PD rights in conservation areas
In conservation areas, you lose PD rights for: cladding the exterior, building side extensions, adding satellite dishes facing a highway, and building dormers on highway-facing roof slopes. Rear extensions retain most PD rights, but materials must be sympathetic. Any work visible from the street gets extra scrutiny.
What you can still build under PD
Rear extensions (within standard depth/height limits), rear dormers (within volume limits), internal alterations, and changes that are not visible from a public place. The key principle: if it faces the highway or is visible from a public viewpoint, it likely needs planning permission.
Designing for conservation areas
If you need planning permission, the council will assess your extension against the conservation area's character. Success tips: use materials that match the existing building, respect the scale of neighbouring properties, avoid dominant or incongruous additions, and consider how the extension looks from the street.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Extension guides
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Can you extend your home in a conservation area? What PD rights are reduced, what needs planning, and how to design an extension that gets approved.
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