Home / Conservation areas / Chelmsford City Council
East of EnglandConservation areas in Chelmsford City Council
27 conservation areas and 26 Article 4 directions on the official register. If your property is in one, extensions, lofts, cladding, outbuildings and demolition follow stricter rules.
Conservation areas
Battlesbridge Conservation Area
Designated 2013 · ref. G022
Rules & recordBoreham - Church Road Conservation Area
Designated 2013 · ref. G015B/2
Rules & recordBoreham - Roman Road/Plantation Road Conservation Area
Designated 2013 · ref. G015A
Rules & recordBroomfield Conservation Area
Designated 2013 · ref. G003/1
Rules & recordChelmer And Blackwater Navigation Conservation Area
Designated 2013 · ref. G021
Rules & recordChelmsford Baddow Road And River Can Conservation Area
Designated 2013 · ref. G012/2
Rules & recordChelmsford Central Conservation Area
Designated 2013 · ref. G001/3
Rules & recordChelmsford John Keene Memorial Homes Conservation Area
Designated 2013 · ref. G024
Rules & recordChelmsford Moulsham Street Conservation Area
Designated 2013 · ref. G002/2
Rules & recordChelmsford New London Road Conservation Area
Designated 2013 · ref. G013/1
Rules & recordChelmsford Springfield Green Conservation Area
Designated 2013 · ref. G017
Rules & recordChelmsford St Johns Hospital Conservation Area
Designated 2013 · ref. G023
Rules & recordChelmsford West End Conservation Area
Designated 2013 · ref. G018/3
Rules & recordDanbury Conservation Area
Designated 2013 · ref. G004/1
Rules & recordEast Hanningfield The Tye Conservation Area
Designated 2013 · ref. G019
Rules & recordGood Easter Conservation Area
Designated 2013 · ref. G016
Rules & recordGreat Baddow Conservation Area
Designated 2013 · ref. G005/1
Rules & recordGreat Waltham Conservation Area
Designated 2013 · ref. G006/1
Rules & recordLittle Baddow (North Hill) Conservation Area
Designated 2025 · ref. G013/2
Rules & recordLittle Waltham Conservation Area
Designated 2013 · ref. G007/1
Rules & recordMargaretting Conservation Area
Designated 2013 · ref. G020
Rules & recordPleshey Conservation Area
Designated 2013 · ref. G008/2
Rules & recordRoxwell Conservation Area
Designated 2013 · ref. G014
Rules & recordSandon Conservation Area
Designated 2013 · ref. G009/1
Rules & recordStock Conservation Area
Designated 2013 · ref. G010/1
Rules & recordWoodham Walter
Designated 2017 · ref. 10155
Rules & recordWrittle Conservation Area
Designated 2013 · ref. G011/2
Rules & recordWhat a conservation area changes
Extensions
Side extensions, and rear extensions of more than one storey, are not permitted development — they need planning permission. Single-storey rear extensions keep their normal limits, but the Larger Home Extension prior-approval route is not available.
Lofts and roofs
Roof extensions such as dormers are not permitted development. Rooflights are usually fine if they don't project more than 15 cm.
Cladding
Cladding the outside of a house in stone, artificial stone, pebble dash, render, timber, plastic or tiles needs planning permission.
Outbuildings
Garden rooms, sheds and other outbuildings to the side of the house need planning permission.
Demolition
Demolishing a building larger than 115 m³ needs planning permission. Taking down a wall, gate or fence over 1 m high next to a road (or 2 m elsewhere) also needs permission.
Trees
You must give the council six weeks' notice before cutting down or pruning most trees (trunk over 7.5 cm across at 1.5 m high), even if they are not protected by a tree preservation order.
Article 4 directions
Councils can remove more permitted development rights — for example for windows, doors, porches or front boundaries — with an Article 4 direction. Check the council's list below.
Article 4 directions in Chelmsford City Council
These remove some permitted development rights in the areas they cover — check whether one applies to your property before you rely on permitted development.
- Ash Tree Stud, Little Waltham (12 November 1990)
- Battlesbridge Conservation Area (13 January 2009)
- Bicknacre Road, East Hanningfield/Danbury (8 May 1991)
- Cedar Park, Graces Lane, Little Baddow (16 January 1990)
- Culverts Farm, Boreham And Whitwells Farm, Little Baddow (13 August 1979)
- Hill House, Rettendon (6 January 1994)
- Hollybred Farm, Little Baddow (12 October 1982)
- Land Adjacent 37 The Dell, Great Baddow, Chelmsford (16 July 2024)
- Land Adjoining A132, Rettendon (5 October 1990)
- Land At Butlers Farm, Main Road, Broomfield (30 April 2025)
- Land At Humber Road, Lawn Lane, Meon Close & Waveney Drive (9 January 2019)
- Land At Meon Close, Wear Dr, Boyne Dr, Waveney Dr & Tees Rd (27 July 2022)
- Land At Well House Farm, Littley Green, Great Waltham (8 February 1993)
- Land Between A132 And B1012, Rettendon (7 October 1986)
- Land Between A132 And B1012, Rettendon (7 October 1986)
- Land Between A132 And B1012, Rettendon (7 October 1986)
- Land Between Old Church Road - Back Lane, E. Hanningfield (14 January 1988)
- Land North Of Congregational Church, Birkett Hall, Main Road (2 July 2012)
- Land Off Runwell Road, Bicknacre (2 December 1987)
- Land Rear Of Highfields Writtle Road Margaretting Ingateston
- Land South Of Hawkswood Road, South Hanningfield (25 May 1976)
- Peartree Farm, Bicknacre Road, Danbury (28 August 1981)
- Rochester Farm, Great Leighs (15 September 1982)
- Stock Football Club Mill Lane Stock Ingatestone Essex (3 May 2023)
- The Wheatsheaf PH, Main Road, Rettendon (29 June 1988)
- West Bowers Farm, Woodham Walter (22 October 1981)
Conservation area and Article 4 data: planning.data.gov.uk. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Always confirm boundaries and rules with the council before starting work. General information, not legal advice.