When a small job needs consent in Buckinghamshire

Find out what applies to your home

Search the National Heritage List for England on the Historic England website to see if your home is listed. A listing also covers most structures fixed to it, and older buildings in its grounds.

Then check the conservation area lists. Buckinghamshire Council publishes an appraisal and map for each of its conservation areas. Milton Keynes City Council says it has 27 conservation areas, including Olney, Stony Stratford and Newport Pagnell.

The Chilterns National Landscape

The Chilterns National Landscape is an area of outstanding natural beauty in law. Like a conservation area, it counts as article 2(3) land in the General Permitted Development Order 2015. That narrows what a householder can do without planning permission.

• Cladding any part of the outside of a house in stone, render, timber, plastic or tiles needs permission.
• A satellite dish on a chimney, wall or roof slope that faces and can be seen from a road needs permission.
• A new flue or soil pipe on a wall or roof slope that fronts a road, on the front or side, needs permission.
• Side extensions, and rear extensions of more than one storey, need permission.

Conservation areas

Buckinghamshire Council says permitted development can be restricted in a conservation area. Its examples are replacement windows, changes to cladding and satellite dishes.

The council can also make an Article 4 direction. That removes more permitted development rights in a defined area, so check if one covers your street.

• Demolishing a building or structure, including a wall, needs planning permission.
• A tree with a trunk 75mm or more across, measured 1.5 metres above the soil, is protected. Tell the council before any work on it.

Listed buildings

Consent applies to the interior as well as the outside of a listed building. Going ahead without it, where it is needed, is a crime. Even these modest jobs can need it.

• Replacing an old window or door, even with a copy.
• Painting over historic panelling, or a new colour on the front.
• Removing old plaster, timber or flooring.
• Fixing a dish, alarm box or light to the front wall.
• Swapping cast iron gutters for plastic.

Traditional Chiltern materials

The Chilterns Conservation Board publishes the Chilterns Buildings Design Guide, with notes on local flint, brick and roofing materials. Planning officers across the Chilterns refer to it.

For repairs to old flint or brick walls, ask the handyman about matching materials. A like-for-like repair is usually the safest choice.

Who is responsible

You are responsible for getting consent, not the handyman. Tell the firm about any listing or conservation area before you agree the job, and wait for the council’s decision.

Questions

Sources