Conservation Areas

in Birmingham & West Midlands

There are currently 29 Conservation Areas in Birmingham. These areas are varied but all contain buildings, structures or features of historic or architectural value. Solihull has 20 Conservation areas and Dudley 21.

If your property is in a conservation area you will need to apply for planning approval for a side or two storey extension. Single storey rear extensions may still be allowed under Permitted Development as long as they adhere to certain criteria.

Many areas also have their own restrictions - Bournville Village Trust, Moorpool Estate, Calthorpe Estate and Selly Park, the Jewellery Quarter to name a few all have guidelines which need to be taken into account when designing any home improvements.

We have submitted many applications in Conservation and Article 4 areas and will be happy to chat about your ideas by telephone or email .

Article 4

Article 4 Directions are used by the planning authority to further prohibit the type of small alterations that would be usually allowed under Permitted Development rights even in a Conservation Area. These types of legislation specifically prohibit certain types of development and are specific to certain streets, parts of streets and even specific houses.

If you want to make a change to your house that is prohibited by an Article 4, you will have to apply for planning approval.

Birmingham City council has introduced a city-wide Article 4 Direction re changing a house into an House of Multiple Occupation (HMO). The direction means that throughout the city a planning application must be submitted for proposals to convert family houses (C3 use class) to small Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) accommodating between 3 and 6 people (C4 use class).