About the Smarden Conservation Area
The Smarden Conservation Area covers about 12 hectares and was designated by Ashford Borough Council in 1997. Inside the boundary are 29 listed buildings (1 Grade I, 4 Grade II*, 24 Grade II). The most significant is Church of St Michael, Grade I. 8 Tree Preservation Order records overlap the area; every other tree here still needs six weeks’ notice before work. Part of the area lies in flood zone 3, so an extension may need a flood risk assessment.
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.
- Church of St MichaelGrade I
- ChessendenGrade II*
- Dragon Cottage Dragon HouseGrade II*
- Hartnup HouseGrade II*
- The Cloth HallGrade II*
- Amberstone the Cobbles the Old Post OfficeGrade II
- Cage Lane CottageGrade II
- Cherry Tree HouseGrade II
- East End CottagesGrade II
- Gillets HouseGrade II
- Hadley Cottage Hadley House HomesideGrade II
- Heathfield Cottage Post Office SloaneGrade II
- K6 Telephone KioskGrade II
- Library Cottage Library HouseGrade II
- Menny's CottageGrade II
- Militia HouseGrade II
- Parsonage House, West End House and Parsonage Cottage.Grade II
- Perrin HouseGrade II
- Providence House and The Pent HouseGrade II
- River CottageGrade II
- The Brothers HouseGrade II
- The Chequers InnGrade II
- The Old School HouseGrade II
- The Zion ChapelGrade II
Show all 29 listed buildings ↓All 29 listed buildings
- Three Oasthouses and Granary to South West of Gilletts FarmhouseGrade II
- Town Bridge CottageGrade II
- Village PumpGrade II
- Waterside HouseGrade II
- Wistaria CottageGrade II
The council’s appraisal
WEBSmarden 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.