Conservation Areas

[CSJXX]

I am currently buying a farmhouse in a conservation area that I plan to renovate/extend. Does anyone have any experience of trying to do this in a conservation area and how difficult was it? The building is not a listed building. If anyone can provide any advice on how to go about it.

Thanks in advance.

[Gav147]

Have a look on here, its the planning site and it covers the basic's also gives you a couple of links at the bottom that will direct you to your local area's site with all the contact details of who you need to talk too.

[Si 330]

CSJXX said:

I am currently buying a farmhouse in a conservation area that I plan to renovate/extend. Does anyone have any experience of trying to do this in a conservation area and how difficult was it? The building is not a listed building. If anyone can provide any advice on how to go about it.

Thanks in advance.

Last year I did a few developments in a conservation area. All your proposals will be passed by the conservation officer at planning stage. The ones I did it was all about keeping the Architecture in line with the surrounding buildings. The points he was keen on were materials, windows and door locations / size. The particular officer we had was reasonable and was prepared to sit down and talk about how we could compromise with what my clients wanted and what he wanted.

[TooLateForAName]

Yep.

Have a look on the council website for the conservation area document. There should be a publication specifically about that conservation area which will talk about the 'special' things in it.

You'll be looking at sticking to the local materials - so slates/stone/sash windows or whatever - and the vernacular style in terms of proportions/details/etc - but there may also be specific important views - you should check that your proposed extension doesn't impinge on those.

[Busamav]

The permitted development rights will also be reduced , although still generous (imho) to the rear elevations.

[Stegel]

Permitted development rights are only affected in conservation areas if the council make an "Article 4 directive" - otherwise they are the same as anywhere else for non-listed buildings. The planning department will be able to advise if they have made one for your area.

[Scraggles]

just make sure it is not near the planned route of the high speed trains, government does not need to worry about the conservation area laws, unlkike the people in the route who have had to pay over the top to add stuff to their houses

[Busamav]

Stegel said:

Permitted development rights are only affected in conservation areas if the council make an "Article 4 directive" - otherwise they are the same as anywhere else for non-listed buildings. The planning department will be able to advise if they have made one for your area.

I think you are incorrect there .

I believe and article 4 directive is a further restriction over and above the restrictions that already apply across the board to permitted development rights for conservation areas ( article 1 (5) land)

Side extensions are specifically removed from PD rights in such areas as are 2 storey rear extensions.

[TooLateForAName]

Agree with Busamav

Edited by TooLateForAName on Friday 24th December 16:08

[CSJXX]

Thanks for the help, I have been in contact with my local council planning office. But at this time of year it may be a while before I hear from them. Do they normally hold meetings or does all have to be correspondence through emails/letters/drawings?

[Nevin]

CSJXX said:

Thanks for the help, I have been in contact with my local council planning office. But at this time of year it may be a while before I hear from them. Do they normally hold meetings or does all have to be correspondence through emails/letters/drawings?

I've found in three different areas that they wee all quite happy for me to go in and talk to them in person after having made initial contact by phone. They were all very helpful.