Planning designations
National planning layers that control what you can change — a Conservation Area, Green Belt, protected landscape or Tree Preservation Order can all restrict alterations and works.
Whether or not a property sits inside a planning designation directly affects what you can do to it. A Conservation Area or a Tree Preservation Order can restrict alterations, extensions, cladding, windows and work to trees. Green Belt and protected landscapes constrain new development. Confirming the absence of these designations is just as useful as flagging their presence.
These are national planning-data layers published by MHCLG through planning.data.gov.uk, recording whether a property falls inside a Conservation Area, Green Belt, protected landscape or similar. They are published under the Open Government Licence.
What we check
How we report it
We report each designation as present or absent at the property point, in a clear table. Where a designation is present — a Conservation Area or TPO in particular — we flag it prominently, because it changes what you can alter without permission.
What it means for you
If you simply want to live in the home, most designations have little day-to-day effect. If you intend to extend, re-clad, replace windows, or work on trees, a Conservation Area or TPO means you should check with the planning authority first — unauthorised work can be an offence and expensive to put right. Buyers who value the character these designations protect often see them as a positive; either way, it is better to know before you exchange.
Know the risks before you commit
An instant, plain-English flood & environmental screen for any address in England — a fast, low-cost first look before you spend on surveys or searches.