Conservation Areas in Dorset Council
The published Planning Data snapshot contains 311 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 Dorset
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.
- Almer Conservation Area15 July 1992
- Blandford Forum and Approaches Conservation Area1 December 1972
- Blandford St Mary and Bryanston Conservation Area1 December 1972
- Brogg Street / Sleight Lane Conservation Area31 October 2007
- Burts Hill / Merrifield Colehill6 October 2006
- Charlton Marshall Conservation Area6 January 1995
- Child Okeford Conservation Area2 April 1971
- Cranborne Conservation Area5 August 1970
- Durweston Conservation Area3 March 1989
- Edmondsham Conservation Area23 July 1991
- Farnham Conservation Area8 January 1988
- Gussage All Saints Conservation Area16 August 1994
- Hampreston Conservatoin Area13 July 1989
- Hazelbury Bryan Conservation Area6 January 1995
- Hilton Conservation Area4 June 1971
- Hinton Martell Conservation Area10 November 1978
- Horton Conservation Area5 March 1990
- Ibberton Conservation Area6 January 1995
- Iwerne Minster Conservation Area9 April 1976
- Mapperton Conservation Area15 July 1992
- Mappowder Conservation Area6 January 1995
- Milborne St Andrew Conservation Area6 January 1995
- Okeford Fitzpaine Conservation Area10 May 1974
- Pentridge Conservation Area3 December 1990
- Pimperne Conservation Area6 January 1995
- Shapwick Conservation Area10 November 1978
- Shillingstone Conservation Area27 July 1990
- Shroton (Iwerne Courtney) Conservation Area4 December 1970
- Stalbridge Conservation Area26 May 1978
- Stalbridge Weston Conservation Area26 May 1978
- Stourpaine Conservation Area6 January 1995
- Stourton Caundle Conservation Area 113 March 1995
- Stourton Caundle Conservation Area 218 May 1995
- Stubhampton Conservation Area 120 August 2012
- Stubhampton Conservation Area 220 August 2012
- Sturminster Marshall Conservation Area9 September 1987
- Sturminster Newton Conservation Area9 April 1976
- Tarrant Valley Conservation Area (Tarrant Hinton)6 January 1995
- Tarrant Valley Conservation Area (Tarrant Monkton)6 January 1995
- Tarrant Valley Conservation Area (Tarrant Rushton)6 January 1995
- Tarrant Valley Conservation Area (Tarrent Granville)6 January 1995
- Tarrant Valley Conservation Area (Tarrent Keyneston)6 January 1995
- Turnworth Conservation Area6 January 1995
- West Parley Conservation Area13 June 1991
- Wimborne St Giles Conservation Area28 May 1975
- Winterborne Houghton Conservation Area24 February 1995
- Winterborne Stickland Conservation Area1 September 1972
- Winterborne Whitchurch Conservation Area6 January 1995
- Winterborne Zelston Conservation Area3 March 1989
- Witchampton Conservation Area7 August 1970
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 Dorset's Planning Map
Open Dorset Council's interactive planning or constraints map and locate the exact property or red-line site boundary.
Open Dorset 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 →