About the Riverside Conservation Area
The Riverside Conservation Area covers about 89 hectares and was designated by Cambridge City Council in 2018. Inside the boundary are 20 listed buildings (1 Grade I, 1 Grade II*, 18 Grade II). The most significant is Chapel of St Mary Magdalene Stourbridge Chapel, Grade I. 154 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 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.
- Chapel of St Mary Magdalene Stourbridge ChapelGrade I
- Barnwell Priory Barnwell Priory (the Cellarer's Checker)Grade II*
- 1-10, Brunswick WalkGrade II
- 27-33, Maid's CausewayGrade II
- 39-53, Maid's CausewayGrade II
- 55-71, Maid's CausewayGrade II
- 73, Maid's CausewayGrade II
- Abbey HouseGrade II
- Archway at Abbey House and to the West of ItGrade II
- C.u.b.c. Goldie BoathouseGrade II
- Church of St Andrew the LessGrade II
- Clare College BoathouseGrade II
- Corpus Christi and Sidney Sussex BoathouseGrade II
- Fort St George Public HouseGrade II
- PapermillsGrade II
- Pembroke College BoathouseGrade II
- The Globe Public HouseGrade II
- The Round HouseGrade II
- Wall at Abbey House Fronting Abbey Road and Beche RoadGrade II
- Wall at Rear of Abbey HouseGrade II
The council’s appraisal
WEBRiverside Conservation Area AppraisalCambridge City 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 Cambridge City Council and Historic England via planning.data.gov.uk (OGL). Guidance only — not an official council check.