About the Polstead Conservation Area
The Polstead Conservation Area covers about 103 hectares and was designated by Babergh District Council in 1973. Inside the boundary are 39 listed buildings (1 Grade I, 1 Grade II*, 37 Grade II). The most significant is Church of St Mary, Grade I. 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 MaryGrade I
- Polstead HallGrade II*
- ArboretteGrade II
- Bells CornerGrade II
- Bridge CottagesGrade II
- Brook CottageGrade II
- CapricornGrade II
- CobblersGrade II
- Cock FarmhouseGrade II
- Corder's HouseGrade II
- Dovecote to the South of Polstead Ponds FarmhouseGrade II
- Green Cottage Hillside CottageGrade II
- Hill HouseGrade II
- Kings BankGrade II
- Maria Martens CottageGrade II
- MaritimeGrade II
- Martins HillGrade II
- Mill CottageGrade II
- Oak CottageGrade II
- Park LodgeGrade II
- Patch CottageGrade II
- Polstead MillGrade II
- Polstead Ponds FarmhouseGrade II
- Rose CottageGrade II
Show all 39 listed buildings ↓All 39 listed buildings
- The Cock InnGrade II
- The CottageGrade II
- The CottageGrade II
- The CottageGrade II
- The NookGrade II
- The Old ForgeGrade II
- The Old Post CottageGrade II
- The Olde StoresGrade II
- The ThatchGrade II
- Tinkers CottageGrade II
- War Memorial at St Marys ChurchGrade II
- Waterloo HouseGrade II
- West CottageGrade II
- Woodland ViewGrade II
- Yew Tree CottageGrade II
The council’s appraisal
WEBPolstead Conservation Area AppraisalBabergh District 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 Babergh District Council and Historic England via planning.data.gov.uk (OGL). Guidance only — not an official council check.