About the Cardington Conservation Area
The Cardington Conservation Area covers about 12 hectares within Bedford Borough Council’s area. Inside the boundary are 27 listed buildings (1 Grade II*, 26 Grade II). The most significant is Howard's House, Grade II*. Part of the area lies in flood zone 2, 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.
- Howard's HouseGrade II*
- 270 and 271, Bedford RoadGrade II
- 272,273 and 274, Bedford RoadGrade II
- 276, The GreenGrade II
- 280,281 and 282, The GreenGrade II
- 297, Southill RoadGrade II
- 314 and 315, Cople RoadGrade II
- 316,317 and 318, Cople RoadGrade II
- 319, The GreenGrade II
- 323 and 324, Church LaneGrade II
- 325, Church LaneGrade II
- 326, Church LaneGrade II
- Cardington War MemorialGrade II
- K6 Telephone Kiosk to South West of Whitbread AlmshousesGrade II
- Malting Farmhouse and No. 275 Bedford RoadGrade II
- Monument in Garden of Howard's HouseGrade II
- Observatory in Grounds of Howard's HouseGrade II
- Parish Church of St Mary the VirginGrade II
- Parish Cottage Parish HallGrade II
- Pleasant PlaceGrade II
- R101 Monument in Cardington CemeteryGrade II
- Stables to Trinity HouseGrade II
- Statue in Garden of Howard's HouseGrade II
- The Cottage Whitbread AlmshousesGrade II
Show all 27 listed buildings ↓All 27 listed buildings
- The Kings Arms Public HouseGrade II
- Trinity HouseGrade II
- Whitbread AlmshousesGrade 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
WEBCardington Conservation Area AppraisalBedford 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 Bedford Borough Council and Historic England via planning.data.gov.uk (OGL). Guidance only — not an official council check.