About the Ashen Conservation Area
The Ashen Conservation Area covers about 4.4 hectares and was designated by Braintree District Council in 1989. Inside the boundary are 12 listed buildings (1 Grade I, 1 Grade II*, 10 Grade II). The most significant is Parish Church of St Augustine of Canterbury, Grade I.
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.
- Parish Church of St Augustine of CanterburyGrade I
- Street FarmhouseGrade II*
- 66 and 67, Ridgewell RoadGrade II
- April CottageGrade II
- Cottage Immediately South of High HouseGrade II
- High HouseGrade II
- K6 KioskGrade II
- Long Entry CottageGrade II
- Rose CottageGrade II
- ThatchesGrade II
- The Old RectoryGrade II
- The Red Cow Public HouseGrade II
The council’s appraisal
WEBAshen Conservation Area AppraisalBraintree 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 Braintree District Council and Historic England via planning.data.gov.uk (OGL). Guidance only — not an official council check.