Conservation areas

What is a conservation area?

Conservation areas are those of "special architectural or historic interest, the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance". It is common for areas of historic towns and villages to be designated as conservation areas. These areas can vary greatly in size and character, but generally it is the appearance of the area, rather than individual buildings, that justifies the designation.

We are required to give "special attention" to those areas and their enhancement. One of the main purposes of designating a conservation area is to ensure that development proposals preserve and enhance the character of the area.

Conservation areas are a very important aspect of conserving the built environment.

For further information about conservation areas, please click on the headings below.

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  • What conservation areas are there in Dacorum?

    There is no standard specification and areas range from small rural groups to large central areas of Hemel Hempstead, Berkhamsted and Tring.

    If you live or own property in a conservation area, you must comply with the normal planning controls which affect everyone else and which are not covered by these guidance notes.

    The one thing they all have in common is that their architectural / historic interest, and their special character / appearance is worth conserving and enhancing.

    In Dacorum we have 25 conservation areas. The extent of these areas is shown by our online local information map. Larger scale maps showing the individual area boundaries more clearly can be inspected in the planning department offices in The Forum, Hemel Hempstead. Copies of these can also be purchased.

    Conservation areas are not meant to be museum pieces – new development occurs all the time. However, a high standard of design of extensions or new buildings is expected to preserve and enhance the character and appearance of the conservation area.

  • Am I in a conservation area?

    You can view the boundaries of the conservation areas in the borough on our online map or using the links below.

    Current conservation areas in Dacorum
    Current conservation area Date originally designated Date of adopted amendment(s)
     Aldbury (PDF 2.46 MB) 7 October 1968 21 December 1977
    29 July 2008
     Berkhamsted (PDF 2.88MB) 24 March 1969 29 March 1994
    21 January 2014
    21 April 2016
    Bovingdon (PDF 3.34 MB) 6 October 1969 July 1975
    28 July 2011
    Chipperfield (PDF 3.62 MB) 8 June 1970 21 December 1977
    28 July 2011
    Dudswell (PDF 2.5 MB) 21 October 1980
    Flamstead (PDF 2.77 MB) 6 October 1969 October 1973
    Flaunden (PDF 1.5 MB) 24 October 1969
    Frithsden (PDF 1.45 MB) 7 October 1968 28 July 2011
    Great Gaddesden (PDF 1.90 MB) 6 October 1969 28 July 2011
    Hemel Hempstead (PDF 4.23 MB) 7 October 1968 21 January 2014
    Kings Langley (PDF 4.82 MB) 6 October 1969 19 November 1975
    Little Gaddesden (PDF 4.62 MB) 7 October 1968
    Long Marston (PDF 2.14 MB) 7 October 1968
    Markyate (PDF 4.38 MB)

    6 October 1969
    Nettleden (PDF 1.47 MB) 7 October 1968 28 July 2011
    Northchurch (PDF 4.81 MB) 6 October 1969 19 November 1975
    Piccotts End (PDF 2.31 MB) 6 October 1969
    Potten End (PDF 3.36 MB) 25 March 1997
    Ringshall (PDF 2.17 MB) 6 October 1969 20 January 1994
    Tring (PDF 5.84 MB) 6 October 1969 16 February 1978
    27 November 2019
    Water End (PDF 1.75 MB) 6 October 1969
    Wilstone (PDF 2.37 MB) 7 October 1968
    Winkwell (PDF 3.22 MB) 16 February 1978
  • Conservation area appraisals

    We have begun a programme of conservation area appraisal work. The purpose of this is to identify and document what factors are considered to make up the special character of these conservation areas. Conservation area character appraisals have been completed for:

  • Are there things I can do without consent?

    Yes, but remember that too many small changes can affect the character of the area.

    We may also have extra powers of detailed control in certain conservation areas, these are known as Article 4 Directions. Independent 'specialist' advice may not always be fully informed or reliable so it is very important to get advice from one of our Planning Officers before making changes.

    Introducing any of the following can spoil the historic character of many buildings and streets:

    • Unsuitably designed replacement windows, particularly those with UPVC frames, "stuck-on" glazing bars, or large sheets of glass
    • New doors of pseudo-historic design
    • Polished hardwood-type finishes on doors and windows. Traditionally, these are painted timber in Dacorum (in most cases)
    • Painting or rendering of brickwork
    • Inappropriate garden walls or fences
    • Removal of boundary walls and fences to create car parking

    If you live or own property in a conservation area, you must comply with the normal planning controls which affect everyone else and which are not covered by these guidance notes.

    Extra controls also apply in conservation areas, and you will need to get written authority from us for the following:

    • Demolishing or partly demolishing buildings larger than 115 cubic metres in volume and including some garden walls and chimneystacks
    • Making additions and alterations to the roof of a house (including dormers)
    • Cladding the outside of a house with stone, timber, tiles or any synthetic / imitation material
    • Installing satellite dishes on the front of the building
    • Cutting down, lopping or topping most trees

    Remember that the regulations for house extensions, garden building and even some boundary walls and fences are different in conservation areas.

    This list is not definitive. If you are thinking about carrying out work in a conservation area, we suggest you first talk to the conservation officers in the planning department at The Forum in Hemel Hempstead. Please call 01442 228000.

  • What is an Article 4 Direction?

    An Article 4 Direction is a special planning regulation adopted by us to provide additional powers of planning control in a particular location. It operates by removing “permitted development” rights over certain specified classes of minor alterations and extensions, such as porches, replacement of windows and doors and painting of the exterior of a building.

    The effect of these Article 4 Directions is that planning permission is required for these minor developments that would otherwise not be required.

    An Article 4 direction will be based upon elements such as the individual character, the group value, state of preservation, the surroundings, potential threat and suitability.

    The Article 4 Directions in Dacorum are listed below:

    Article 4 Directions in Dacorum
    Town Road House number/names Date confirmed
    Berkhamsted Boxwell Road 1-9, 10 – 28 27/05/2004
    Berkhamsted Camilla Terrace (High Street) 251 – 259 24/03/2005
    Berkhamsted Chapel Street 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 22 and 23 27/10/2011
    Berkhamsted Charles Street 34, 36, 36a, 39, 41, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, 83, 85, 87, 89, 91, 93, 95, 97 and 99 27/10/2011
    Berkhamsted Clarence Road 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19 21/08/2008
    Berkhamsted Cowper Road 1 – 26 13/01/2005
    Berkhamsted Hamilton Road 1, 2, 3 and 4 27/10/2011
    Berkhamsted High Street 66, 68, 70, 72, 74, 251, 253, 255, 257 and 259 24/03/2005
    Berkhamsted High Street 320, 322, 324,326 & 328, 330, 332, 334, 336 and 338 27/10/2011
    Berkhamsted Kitsbury Road 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 15a, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 38, 39, 39a, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66 and 67 27/10//2011
    Berkhamsted Kitsbury Terrace 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 27/10/2011
    Berkhamsted Ravens Lane Lock Cottage 27/10/2011
    Berkhamsted Shrublands Avenue 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 – 91 24/07/2006
    Berkhamsted Shrublands Avenue 92 07/ 09/2006
    Berkhamsted Shrublands Road 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 and 15 27/10/2011
    Berkhamsted Sibdon Place (High Street) 66 – 74 24/03/2005
    Berkhamsted Station Road 3 – 24 01/02/2005
    Northchurch Covert Road 49 23/08/1974
    Ringshall   Ringshall 35 order dated 28/07/1980 unconfirmed – old ref. 27
    Tring   High Street 94, 96, 102, 104, 106, 108 20/01/2005
    Tring   King Street                1 – 18 Hamilton House, Kosicote and Hope Cottages 13/01/2005
    Tring Park Road Linwood, Farnleigh 20/01/2005
    Tring Kiln Road Land at High Scrubbs Wood / Shrubbs Wood opposite Kiln Farm 15/09/2016
    Little Gaddesden   Little Gaddesden House 06/04/2005
    Land covered by Article 4 Directions:
    Berkhamsted Tower Close Kingshill Water Tower 17/03/1994
    Berkhamsted   Nettleden Road Potten End Land on the north side of 10/06/1992
    of Berkhamsted (confirmed) Nettleden Road Potten End Land off the south side 08/05/1991
    (confirmed) Hill Water End Land off Potten End 21/02/1990
    Potten End (confirmed) Little Heath Lane Land at Rosa Maria Farm 14/02/1991
    Berkhamsted and Tring   The Rural district of Berkhamsted and the urban district of Tring 13/11/1975
    Berkhamsted   Urban District of Berkhamsted frontage to New Road (this includes the Castle Hill site and Goreside) 21/12/1976
    Tring Miswell Lane and Okeford Drive Land between Miswell Lane and Okeford Drive 05/10/2006
    Tring Icknield Way Land adjacent to Icknield Way 05/09/2006
    Tring Kiln Road Land at High Scrubs Wood / Shrubbs Wood Opposite Kiln Farm 15/09/2016
    Northchurch New Road Land at New Road 15/04/2005

  • What is conservation area enhancement?

    Many conservation areas have scope for improvement and legislation promotes the importance of “enhancing” as well as “preserving” them.

    This is why we have carried out a number of enhancement schemes, both small and large, in conservation areas and intend to continue this work.

    Local amenity societies and volunteer groups also do very effective work in this respect. Please get in touch with the planning department if you have any ideas which will enhance your area or want to know more about what is being done in Dacorum’s conservation areas.

Page Last Updated: Friday, 29 April 2022 at 11:23 AM