About the Biddenden Conservation Area
The Biddenden Conservation Area covers about 16 hectares and was designated by Ashford Borough Council in 1996. Inside the boundary are 31 listed buildings (3 Grade I, 2 Grade II*, 26 Grade II). The most significant is 3-17 High Street, Grade I. 13 Tree Preservation Order records overlap the area; every other tree here still needs six weeks’ notice before work.
What changes inside the conservation area
Conservation areas are “Article 2(3) land”. You keep most permitted development rights, but these are removed or tightened.
- Rear extensionElsewhere: 3 m · 6 m with PANo 6 m / 8 m prior approval
- Two-storey extensionElsewhere: 3 mNeeds planning permission
- Side extensionElsewhere: Half the widthNeeds planning permission
- Loft conversionElsewhere: 50 m³Needs planning permission
- Garden roomElsewhere: 2.5 m high by boundariesNot beside the house
- PorchElsewhere: 3 m²Same limits
- Solar panelsElsewhere: 0.2 m projectionSame limits
- Air source heat pumpElsewhere: 1 unitNot facing the road
- Fences, walls and gatesElsewhere: 2 m · 1 m by a roadSame limits
- External claddingElsewhere: Matching materialsNeeds planning permission
- Tree workElsewhere: No notice6 weeks’ notice to the council
- Demolition (over 115 m³)Elsewhere: AllowedNeeds planning permission
Limits for a semi-detached house under the GPDO 2015. An Article 4 direction can remove more.
Listed buildings in the conservation area
Any work affecting these needs listed building consent, inside or out. Each links to its entry on the National Heritage List.
- 3-17 High StreetGrade I
- East Wing and West WingGrade I
- Parish Church of All SaintsGrade I
- Biddenden PlaceGrade II*
- Henden HallGrade II*
- 18-26, High StreetGrade II
- 19 and 21, High StreetGrade II
- 2 and 4, High StreetGrade II
- 2, North StreetGrade II
- 23 and 25, High StreetGrade II
- 32, High StreetGrade II
- 4, North StreetGrade II
- 6 and 8, North StreetGrade II
- 6-12, High StreetGrade II
- 66 and 68, North StreetGrade II
- Biddenden Post OfficeGrade II
- Church CottagesGrade II
- Church CottagesGrade II
- Field CottageGrade II
- Garden Wall and Gate to the Old Cloth Workers HallGrade II
- Lilac HouseGrade II
- Malt HouseGrade II
- Mansion HouseGrade II
- Old Kent HouseGrade II
Show all 31 listed buildings ↓All 31 listed buildings
- The Former Stables to the Cloth Workers' Hall Situated to the South of Cloth Workers' HallGrade II
- The Garden wall and gazebo of Henden HallGrade II
- The LaurelsGrade II
- The Red Lion InnGrade II
- Townland FarmhouseGrade II
- Vine Cottages Vine HouseGrade II
- West HouseGrade II
Streets in the conservation area
Streets with listed buildings inside the boundary. Boundaries often split a street — check your exact address.
The council’s appraisal
WEBBiddenden Conservation Area AppraisalAshford Borough Council’s description of the area’s character — what planners look at when you apply.Open on council site ↗Nearby conservation areas
Boundary and listed buildings from Ashford Borough Council and Historic England via planning.data.gov.uk (OGL). Guidance only — not an official council check.