What is a Conservation Area?
The UK is known for its beautiful areas full of history and culture so it’s no secret that these areas must be protected and preserved at any cost. So any area of particular historic and architectural interest is known as a conservation area, this all started in the 1960s and there are now around 10,000 conservation areas across England.
Conservation areas could include:
Old housing estates or suburbs
Country estates
Centre of old towns and villages
Landmarks
This means over the years many historical landmarks have been protected and preserved, so if your building project happens to fall on a conservation site this may lead to a few problems as there are different legislations and regulation approvals than need to be implemented.
Can You Build Property in a Conservation Area?
The short answer is YES. This would all depend on the project as a whole and also the methods chosen to complete the overall project. Let’s take a look at some of those things below ….
Demolition of buildings and structures
Extensions or alterations
Cladding of parts of the building
Added solar panels or chimney
New build properties
If your work is covered by Article 4 direction and is only small then it’s usually ok under permitted development work. Some smaller projects not covered by Article 4 may need planning permission for development work to proceed forward.
You must keep in mind that you cannot destroy or move any buildings or structures in the facilitated area without permission from the local authority; this also applies to part buildings in some cases rather than buildings as a whole.
It’s always better to be safe than sorry so always speak to your local authority before carrying out any work. Another thing you must keep in mind is that many conservative areas have protection orders in place for things such as trees, wildlife and wooded areas.
A tree prevention order may be in place preventing the cutting down of trees, lopping, uprooting, topping and wilful damage, should you wish to develop areas protected by TPO then you need written consent from your local planning authority.
What Materials Should I Use In A Conservation Area?
For the odds to be stacked in your favor you’re going to want to have knowledge and understanding of the area, knowledge is power and providing you have insight into the land’s history can only be positive.
Take a good look in and around the local area to get a feel for the rest of the architecture especially when it comes to design and materials.
Looks don’t always reflect the type of materials that should be used, it’s not uncommon for your local conservation office to be over passionate about the area and can provide insight. It's a good idea to reach out to them.
Have you looked into ground screws? They are a great tool when building on conservative areas as they don’t damage the ground and are a great solution when it comes to building on TPOs as screws can be carefully installed around roots and tricky areas.
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If you'd like to discuss a project or have any questions about the services we offer, then please don't hesitate to get in touch with us. One of the Kendon Sloggett Construction team is always on hand to assist.