HeritageCheck guides
Help with conservation areas and listed buildings
Choose the subject that matches what you need to check. Each guide explains the rules in plain English and links to official information.
Start here
CA
What Is a Conservation Area?
What conservation area status means, who designates an area and where to find the official boundary.
Check
How to Check Whether a Property Is in a Conservation Area
How to use HeritageCheck and confirm the result against the local authority's published boundary.
Council
Local Planning Authorities
How to find the authority responsible for a property and what to include when asking for advice.
Planning work
Rules
Conservation Area Restrictions and Planning Rules
The extra checks that may apply to extensions, demolition, windows, roofs and other changes.
Plan
Planning Permission in Conservation Areas
When planning permission may be needed and what to check with the local planning authority before work starts.
A4
Article 4 Directions
What an Article 4 direction changes and how to check whether it affects a property or planned work.
Trees
Trees in Conservation Areas
What to check before pruning or removing a tree, including Tree Preservation Orders and six-week notices in England.
Listed buildings
CA/L
Conservation Areas and Listed Buildings
The difference between an area designation and an individually listed building, and what happens when both apply.
Listed
Listed Buildings and Grades
What listing protects, what Grades I, II* and II mean, and when listed building consent may be needed.
Curtilage
Curtilage and Listed Buildings
Why land, walls and outbuildings associated with a listed building can also be protected.