Conservation areas and building regulations

The designation of a conservation area may affect the way that the Building Regulations apply to your property.

If you are considering building works to a property in a conservation area and you are unsure how to proceed, please contact the Building Control team for further advice.

Please follow the link at the foot of the page for more information about application forms and fees.

Energy efficiency

Approved document L1B concerns 'conservation of fuel and power in existing dwellings'. A dwelling in a conservation area may be exempt from the energy efficiency requirements, "to the extent that compliance would unacceptably alter its character or appearance". This exemption may apply to building work to the dwelling or extensions to the dwelling.

When undertaking work to a dwelling in a conservation area, "the aim should be to improve energy efficiency as far as is reasonably practicable. The work should not prejudice the character of the building or increase the risk of deterioration of the building's fabric or fittings".

Access and use

Approved document M concerns 'access to and use of buildings'. When undertaking work to a building in a conservation area, "the aim should be to improve accessibility where and to the extent that it is practically possible". Again the work should not "prejudice the character of the building or increase the risk of deterioration of the building's fabric or fittings".

A physical feature may put a disabled person at a substantial disadvantage in comparison with a person who is not disabled. The Equality Act 2010 imposes a legal duty to take reasonable steps "to avoid the disadvantage", by "removing the physical feature in question, altering it or providing a reasonable means of avoiding it". However, the Equality Act does not override other legislation such as the legislation relating to conservation areas.