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South EastConservation areas in Oxford City Council
18 conservation areas and 4 Article 4 directions on the official register. If your property is in one, extensions, lofts, cladding, outbuildings and demolition follow stricter rules.
Conservation areas
Bartlemas
Designated 1976 · ref. SSLZMFZX0002
Rules & recordBeauchamp Lane
Designated 1973 · ref. SSLZMFZX0010
Rules & recordBinsey
Designated 1981 · ref. SSLZMFZX0005
Rules & recordCentral
Designated 1971 · ref. SSLZMFZX0011
Rules & recordHeadington Hill
Designated 1977 · ref. SSLZMFZX0008
Rules & recordHeadington Quarry
Designated 1971 · ref. SSLZMFZX0016
Rules & recordIffley Village
Designated 1969 · ref. SSLZMFZX0015
Rules & recordJericho
Designated 2011 · ref. LHOUMKMF0AF00
Rules & recordLittlemore
Designated 1999 · ref. SSLZMFZX0014
Rules & recordMarston
Designated 1976 · ref. SSLZMFZX0007
Rules & recordNorth Oxford Victorian Suburb
Designated 1968 · ref. SSLZMFZX0017
Rules & recordOld Headington
Designated 1971 · ref. SSLZMFZX0013
Rules & recordOsney Town
Designated 1976 · ref. SSLZMFZX0012
Rules & recordOxford Stadium, Sandy Lane
Designated 2014 · ref. O2N217MF0AF00
Rules & recordSt. Clement's And Iffley Road
Designated 1977 · ref. SSLZMFZX0009
Rules & recordTemple Cowley
Designated 1986 · ref. SSLZMFZX0003
Rules & recordWalton Manor
Designated 1975 · ref. SSLZMFZX0004
Rules & recordWolvercote With Godstow
Designated 1981 · ref. SSLZMFZX0006
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 Oxford 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.
- Houses in Multiple Occupation Article 4 Direction (25 February 2012)
- The Jericho Article 4 Direction (31 March 2011)
- The Osney Town Article 4 Direction 1993 (1 January 1994)
- The Wolvercote Green Article 4 Direction (19 December 2007)
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.