Conservation Areas in Ashford Borough Council
The published Planning Data snapshot contains 44 conservation-area records for this authority.
What is a Conservation Area?
A conservation area is an area designated by the local planning authority under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as having special architectural or historic interest. The aim is to preserve and enhance the character and appearance of these areas for future generations.
Conservation areas can include town centres, historic villages, Victorian suburbs, garden estates, and even industrial heritage sites. They are not just about the buildings themselves — they also include the spaces between buildings, trees, street furniture, and the general character of the area.
Published Conservation Areas in Ashford
These names come from the government's Planning Data service. Open an available record for its official reference, then confirm the boundary and appraisal with the council.
- Aldington - Church Area11 July 1996
- Aldington - Clap Hill11 July 1996
- Appledore19 February 1987
- Ashford - Lacton Green11 April 1991
- Ashford - Queens Road11 April 1996
- Ashford - Town Centre11 December 1986
- Bethersden11 April 1996
- Biddenden11 April 1996
- Bilsington11 July 1996
- Boughton Lees19 February 1987
- Brabourne11 July 1996
- Charing11 July 1996
- Chilham11 July 1996
- Egerton8 January 1976
- Great Chart11 April 1996
- Hamstreet11 July 1996
- High Halden11 April 1996
- Hothfield11 July 1996
- Kennington & Ball Lane11 July 1996
- Kennington & Ball Lane Part11 July 1996
- Kingsnorth11 July 1996
- Little Chart11 July 1996
- Little Chart Forstal11 April 1996
- Mersham11 April 1996
- Newenden11 April 1996
- Pluckley11 July 1996
- Pluckley Station19 February 1987
- Reading Street11 July 1996
- Rolvenden11 July 1996
- Rolvenden Layne11 April 1996
- Shadoxhurst11 July 1996
- Smallhythe11 July 1996
- Smarden11 April 1997
- Smeeth11 April 1996
- St. Michaels11 July 1996
- Stone in Oxney11 April 1996
- Tenterden10 October 1996
- Warehorne - The Green29 June 1973
- Warehorne - The Leacon11 July 1996
- Westwell11 April 1996
- Willesborough Lees11 April 1996
- Wittersham11 July 1996
- Woodchurch11 July 1996
- Wye10 October 1996
Coverage varies by provider and can change. Absence from this list is not proof that land is outside a conservation area; the council's map and designation documents are authoritative.
How Conservation Areas Affect Your Planning Rights
Living in a conservation area does not mean you cannot make changes to your home — but it does mean that some works which are normally permitted development will require planning permission. The following permitted development rights are removed or restricted in conservation areas:
- !Cladding the exterior of a house with stone, render, timber, plastic or tiles is not permitted development on article 2(3) land.
- !A roof enlargement cannot project beyond the plane of the principal or side roof slope where it fronts a highway.
- !Side extensions and certain two-storey extensions face tighter permitted-development limits.
- !Outbuildings at the side of a house are not permitted development on article 2(3) land.
- !Relevant demolition may require planning permission, and listed buildings have a separate consent regime.
- !You must normally give the council six weeks’ notice before specified work to trees, unless an exception applies.
- !An Article 4 direction can remove additional rights, but only for the development and area stated in the direction.
How to Check if Your Property is in a Conservation Area
- 1
Screen the postcode or UPRN
Use the PlanningScout constraints checker to look for published national conservation-area and other designation records. Treat a postcode as an area search, not an exact boundary.
Open the constraints checker → - 2
Confirm on Ashford's Planning Map
Open Ashford Borough Council's interactive planning or constraints map and locate the exact property or red-line site boundary.
Open Ashford council website → - 3
Read the designation and appraisal
Open the underlying Planning Data record where available, then find the council appraisal or management plan describing the area’s character and local design guidance.
Open the official dataset → - 4
Check planning history and Article 4
A planning condition or Article 4 direction can remove rights beyond the standard conservation-area restrictions. Read the actual notice and any conditions affecting the property.
Screen published Article 4 records →