Home / Conservation areas / Reading Borough Council
South EastConservation areas in Reading Borough Council
15 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
Alexandra Road
Designated 2006 · ref. 9532
Rules & recordChristchurch
Designated 1987 · ref. 9531
Rules & recordDownshire Square
Designated 1991 · ref. 9526
Rules & recordEldon Square
Designated 1972 · ref. 6223
Rules & recordHorncastle
Designated 1988 · ref. 9529
Rules & recordKendrick Road
Designated 2006 · ref. 9533
Rules & recordMarket Place and London Street
Designated 1972 · ref. 9522
Rules & recordRedlands
Designated 1991 · ref. 9530
Rules & recordRouth Lane
Designated 1987 · ref. 9527
Rules & recordRussell Street and Castle Hill
Designated 1972 · ref. 9523
Rules & recordSouth Park
Designated 1988 · ref. 9525
Rules & recordSt Mary's Butts and Castle Street
Designated 1972 · ref. 9524
Rules & recordSt Peter's
Designated 1988 · ref. 9521
Rules & recordSurley Row
Designated 1988 · ref. 9520
Rules & recordThe Mount
Designated 1987 · ref. 9528
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.