Home / Conservation areas / Colchester City Council
East of EnglandConservation areas in Colchester City Council
24 conservation areas and 0 Article 4 directions on the official register. If your property is in one, extensions, lofts, cladding, outbuildings and demolition follow stricter rules.
Conservation areas
Birch
Designated 1993 · ref. 13
Rules & recordBoxted
Designated 1969 · ref. 3
Rules & recordChappel
Designated 1969 · ref. 2
Rules & recordColchester Area 1
Designated 1968 · ref. 12
Rules & recordColchester Area 2
Designated 1969 · ref. 11
Rules & recordColchester Area 3
Designated 1969 · ref. 19
Rules & recordColchester Area 4
Official record · ref. 23
Rules & recordColchester Area 5 Mill Field Estate
Official record · ref. 24
Rules & recordCopford
Designated 1991 · ref. 10
Rules & recordDedham
Designated 1968 · ref. 14
Rules & recordDistillery Pond
Designated 1992 · ref. 8
Rules & recordFingringhoe
Designated 1980 · ref. 16
Rules & recordFord Street
Designated 1969 · ref. 1
Rules & recordGarrison
Designated 2004 · ref. 22
Rules & recordGreat Tey
Designated 1980 · ref. 20
Rules & recordHythe
Designated 1985 · ref. 18
Rules & recordLittle Horkesley
Designated 1980 · ref. 4
Rules & recordMessing
Designated 1980 · ref. 5
Rules & recordNew Town
Designated 1993 · ref. 17
Rules & recordRowhedge
Designated 1980 · ref. 6
Rules & recordStratford St. Mary
Designated 1973 · ref. 7
Rules & recordWest Mersea
Designated 1989 · ref. 15
Rules & recordWivenhoe
Designated 1969 · ref. 21
Rules & recordWormingford
Designated 1980 · ref. 9
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.
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.