Conservation areas - what you need to know before buying a property in one
A conservation area is often one of outstanding natural beauty or historically significant; something that people are trying to protect. But what if you want to buy a property in a conservation area, how does that impact your life? Read this article to find out...
Before you embark on the journey of buying a property in a conservation area, it's crucial to understand the implications and restrictions that come with it. This knowledge will empower you to make informed decisions about your potential purchase.
When we envision our ideal homes, many of us conjure up images of charming chocolate box houses nestled in picturesque rural landscapes. These countryside havens offer the allure of long, leisurely days spent strolling through nature. These beautiful homes, often steeped in history and English charm, are a dream for many.
But there are drawbacks to living in these perfect locations. Of course, a rural setting will mean there may be fewer conveniences than living in an urban setting. Supermarkets may be a few miles away, schools a little further afield and your commute to work may be a little drive each way. But you can't have everything, can you? A quiet, peaceful country lifestyle also can't have industry and busyness.
There may be further drawbacks when buying a property with a bit of history. There are listings to protect the property and its historical importance, but properties can also fall into conservation areas.
A conservation area, dictated by the local authority, is a specific location with restrictions and guidelines. The intention is to protect and preserve the area, its visual appearance, and its historically important elements. These restrictions can vary depending on the local authority and what they are trying to preserve, but even if you have a more modern home that perhaps doesn't have any particular historically significant elements or a specific listing, you could still have restrictions because the property falls within the conservation area.
This could mean that you are governed by the local authority for things like windows and your front door. You might be restricted by what kind, style or colour you can choose. You might be unable to change the external appearance of the property, and maybe even the trees and hedges in the gardens or outdoor lighting.
Ultimately, the aim of setting an area for conservation, which often also coincides with an area of outstanding natural beauty, is to retain the appearance of the area. This could mean-
Planning permissions come with conditions in an attempt to retain the appearance of the village or town.
You may not be able to do what you want with your own property - similar to buying a listed building, there may be restrictions about what you can do. Ranging from affecting extensions to the colour of your front door or the plants and trees that you can grow or remove in your gardens.
It's important to remember that the purpose of a conservation area is to safeguard and enhance its unique charm and beauty. This preservation is what makes the area so appealing and is likely a key reason you're considering living there. Without these restrictions, the area's character might not be as alluring.
It shouldn't cause you much concern as the restrictions are for a good reason. It simply means that you must consider the local authority before making any significant changes or alterations to the property. When you are looking to buy a property, think about whether there is anything you would particularly want to change, and whether this change may be restricted by the conservation rules.
If you are looking for a new home, get in touch with our team to register your details so that we can keep you informed of new listings as soon as they come to the market.