Cladding the outside
Covering any outside wall in stone, artificial stone, pebble dash, render, timber, plastic or tiles needs planning permission.
England · Free · Instant
Is your home in a
conservation area?
Free conservation area checker and planning constraints map
Enter a postcode to see the conservation area on a map, with Article 4 directions, listed buildings, protected trees and flood zones nearby. Know what needs planning permission before you pay for work.
FreeNo accountResults in secondsTry GL20 5AB
9,515
conservation areas mapped across England
5
official datasets checked at once
£4.99
for a dated PDF report, one time
How it works
From postcode to a clear answer
- 01
Search the postcode
We place a pin and read every planning designation at that spot from the national datasets.
- 02
Move the pin to your building
A postcode covers several homes. Drag the pin onto the exact house and the check runs again.
- 03
Get it in writing
Download a dated report to hand to a builder, installer, solicitor or the council.
The rules
What needs planning permission in a conservation area
Houses in conservation areas lose some of the permitted development rights other homes have. These are the changes that catch people out most often.
Side extensions
Any extension beyond a side wall of the house needs planning permission, whatever its size.
Rear extensions
Extensions of more than one storey at the back need permission. Single storey ones are capped at 3 m deep, or 4 m for a detached house.
Roof extensions
Dormers and other roof extensions are not permitted development here, so they need planning permission.
Sheds and outbuildings
Any outbuilding, enclosure or pool between a side wall of the house and the boundary needs planning permission.
Solar panels
Panels on a wall that fronts a road or path need permission, and so do freestanding panels placed closer to the road than the house.
Satellite dishes and antennas
Fitting one on a chimney, wall or roof slope that faces onto and is visible from a road needs permission.
Trees
You must give the council 6 weeks notice before cutting down, lopping or topping a tree with a trunk over 75 mm across at 1.5 m above the ground.
Demolition
Knocking down most buildings, and some walls, gates and fences, needs planning permission.
Know the rules before you pay a builder, not after the council writes to you.
Property report
A dated record for one exact address
Everything from the free check, plus the full list of nearby listed buildings, the rules that apply and a map, in one document you can save as a PDF.
- Conservation areas
- Article 4 directions
- Listed buildings within 250 m
- Protected tree zones
- Flood zone
- Rules for building work
£4.99 one time. No account, no subscription.
More checks
Answers for every kind of planning question
Questions
Common questions
Is this an official council search?
No. It reads the official national planning datasets published by the government and Historic England, but your local planning authority holds the definitive records. Use this check to know what to ask, then confirm with the council.
How accurate is a postcode check?
A postcode covers several homes, so the pin starts at the centre of the postcode. Drag the pin onto the exact building and the check runs again for that spot.
What is in the report?
A dated report for your exact location: the conservation area and council, any Article 4 direction, listed buildings within 250 m with their grades, tree preservation zones within 100 m, the flood zone, and the work that needs permission. Save it as a PDF to share with a builder, installer, solicitor or the council.
Where does the data come from?
From planning.data.gov.uk, the government planning data platform, which includes Historic England records. It is published under the Open Government Licence.
Does it cover Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?
Not yet. The datasets used here cover England.
What if no conservation area is shown?
Council coverage of the national dataset is still incomplete. A blank result is a good sign, not a guarantee, so check with your council if you are planning work.
Do I need planning permission for new windows in a conservation area?
Usually not for a house, if the new windows look similar to the old ones. You do need it if an Article 4 direction covers windows, if the building is listed, or if you live in a flat.
How do I pay for the report?
By card through Dodo Payments, which handles VAT. The report opens straight after payment. Keep the link to open it again later.