What additional Planning Restrictions apply in Conservation Areas?

Special additional restrictions apply in Conservation Areas, these are in addition to standard planning restrictions and listed building regulations.

The size limit for extending you home without obtaining planning permission is 50 cubic metres or 10% of the house’s original volume, up to a maximum of 115 cubic metres. (There are also other planning regulations that apply to the size, location and height of extensions, irrespective of whether the house is within or outside a Conservation Area). The cladding of any part of the exterior with stone, artificial stone, timber, plastic or tiles, requires planning consent.

You must obtain written planning consent from the Council before knocking down any building or structure, or removing any significant part of a building (e.g. a roof or a chimney stack). This consent is termed Conservation Area Consent . There are only minor exceptions to this special restriction, and you should always check first. You must also give the council six weeks’ notice in writing before felling or cutting back any tree. In giving notice you will be required to specify precisely what works you wish to carry out. You will normally hear from the council within that six-week period.

Some additional restrictions also apply to advertisements – in particular the use of advertising hoardings around building sites, and the use of captive balloons for advertising. Consent must also be sought to put up a satellite dish if it is more the 70cm wide or if it is to be mounted above the ridgeline of a house, or if it is to be placed on any part of a listed building.

If you are in any doubt about any of these special restrictions it is always advisable to check with the Epping Forest District Council Planning Services before carrying out any work. Heritage Conservation can be emailed at conservation@eppingforestdc.gov.uk .

What form do I need to use to apply for Conservation Area Consent? 

You need to submit five copies of the Application for Conservation Area Consent form.

How do I get permission to work on a tree in a Conservation Area?