Conservation Areas

An area is designated as a Conservation Area to help manage and protect its special architectural and historic features. Designation is usually by the local planning authority, who will draw up a Conservation Area Management Plan for its future protection and improvement. If you live in a CA, you will probably need to get planning permission to make changes to your property such as adding an extension, converting a roof space, adding dormer windows, solar panels, putting in double glazing, or cutting down larger trees in your garden. If you have a business in the CA, you will probably need planning permission to (for example) change a shop frontage.

 

A ‘listed building’ is one that’s considered to need special protection because of its particular architectural and/or historic interest. It is designated by Historic England at one of three grades: Grade I (for buildings of exceptional interest such as Lewes Castle), Grade II*, or Grade II. If you live or work in a listed building (whether it’s in a CA or not), you will need to get ‘listed building consent’ from the local authority to demolish, extend or alter it.

 

Much of the centre of our town is in the Lewes CA (see map) which contains many hundreds of listed buildings, such as Anne of Cleves House (below). The Malling Deanery CA (see map) is a separate, smaller area north of the river. 

 

Certain kinds of building work are generally allowed under permitted development rights without applying for planning permission. But in a CA these rights may be more restricted, and the planning authority will make an Article 4 Directive setting out which works need planning permission and which do not.