About the Wethersfield Conservation Area
The Wethersfield Conservation Area covers about 54 hectares and was designated by Braintree District Council in 1973. Inside the boundary are 44 listed buildings (1 Grade I, 2 Grade II*, 41 Grade II). The most significant is Parish Church of St Mary Magdalene, 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.
- Parish Church of St Mary MagdaleneGrade I
- Numbers 1-4 Simm's FarmhouseGrade II*
- St George's HouseGrade II*
- Ancillary Building Approximately 6 Metres South of Russell's FarmhouseGrade II
- Barn Approximately 12 Metres South West of Russell's FarmhouseGrade II
- Barn Approximately 15 Metres South East of Golden's FarmhouseGrade II
- Barn Approximately 8 Metres South of Russell's FarmhouseGrade II
- Blenheim HouseGrade II
- Briar CottageGrade II
- Brick House and LysveanGrade II
- Brook FarmhouseGrade II
- Brookside CottageGrade II
- Castle House (the Spinning Wheel)Grade II
- Chapel CottageGrade II
- Chase HouseGrade II
- Church Hill HouseGrade II
- Cottage Approximately 30 Metres North North West of LysveanGrade II
- Edgebrook and RosamondGrade II
- Fir CottageGrade II
- Golden's FarmhouseGrade II
- House on the Corner of the Green and Silver StreetGrade II
- Ivanhoe HouseGrade II
- K6 Telephone Kiosk to North of Ivanhoe HouseGrade II
- Mausoleum Approximately 20 Metres East of United Reformed ChurchGrade II
Show all 44 listed buildings ↓All 44 listed buildings
- Number 1 Sim's CottageGrade II
- Number 3 Brook CottagesGrade II
- Numbers 1 and 2 (sparrows), Post Office CottagesGrade II
- Numbers 3 and 4 (churchyard Cottage), Post Office CottagesGrade II
- Railings and Gateway Approximately 7 Metres South of the ManseGrade II
- Railings Approximately 37 Metres South South East of United Reformed ChurchGrade II
- Rudi's RestaurantGrade II
- Russell's FarmhouseGrade II
- Smithy CottageGrade II
- Stable Block Approximately 9 Metres South East of Russell's FarmhouseGrade II
- Stables CottageGrade II
- The Bakery and Burleigh CottageGrade II
- The CottageGrade II
- The GablesGrade II
- The HoodsGrade II
- The ManseGrade II
- Trodd's Garage (john Pease Motors)Grade II
- United Reformed ChurchGrade II
- Virgina House and the StoresGrade II
- Wethersfield Place (six Apples)Grade II
The council’s appraisal
WEBWethersfield 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.