About the Wrest Park Conservation Area
The Wrest Park Conservation Area covers about 363 hectares within Central Bedfordshire Council’s area. Inside the boundary are 43 listed buildings (2 Grade I, 8 Grade II*, 33 Grade II). The most significant is Archer Pavilion, Grade I. 1 Article 4 direction over the area removes further householder rights, on top of the conservation area limits below. 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.
Article 4 directions here
These overlap the conservation area. Householder directions remove more of the rights above; change-of-use ones don’t affect extending a house.
- Article 4 DirectionHouseholder works
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.
- Archer PavilionGrade I
- Wrest Park House and service block comprising pavilions, clock tower and the dairyGrade I
- Bath House and CascadeGrade II*
- Bowling Green House and Two Urns on Pedestals 5m to the south-east and north-eastGrade II*
- Four Statuary Groups in the South Parterre (also known as the French Garden) south of Wrest House, depicting Aeneas and Anchises, the Abduction of Helen of Troy, Venus and Adonis and Meleager and AtalantaGrade II*
- Group of Five Altars approximately 50m south of Ladies LakeGrade II*
- Mithraic Altar approximately 40m east of the Hutton MonumentGrade II*
- Orangery, Steps and Four Cherub Statues on PedestalsGrade II*
- Statue of Lady Jemima, 27m South of the West Half HouseGrade II*
- Statue of William III 30m north of the Archer PavilionGrade II*
- 2 Roman baths immediately in front of the terrace of Wrest Park House (to East and West)Grade II
- Chinese Bridge across north end of Broad WaterGrade II
- Chinese Summerhouse to south side of North Broad WaterGrade II
- Coachman's Cottage and attached Stables, Coach Houses and OutbuildingsGrade II
- East Half HouseGrade II
- Eastern Lodge of Pair Called Brabury LodgesGrade II
- Former Brewhouse, Link Block, Pump House and Fire Engine House Range in the Service Yard at Wrest Park HouseGrade II
- Former Stable Block immediately east of Wrest Park HouseGrade II
- Fountain Within Small Circular Pond and Eight Surrounding Statues Approx 200m South of Wrest Park HouseGrade II
- Garden House and low brick garden wallGrade II
- Group of Six Statues 270m South of Wrest Park HouseGrade II
- Ha-Ha in the Old ParkGrade II
- Ha-Ha on the east side of Wrest ParkGrade II
- Home FarmhouseGrade II
Show all 43 listed buildings ↓All 43 listed buildings
- Ice House Approximately 200 Metres North West of Home FarmhouseGrade II
- Italian Garden Structures including Statue of Ceres, Curb Stones, Entrance Piers, Gatepiers and GatesGrade II
- Le Petit Trianon (also known as The Wendy House)Grade II
- Mermaid Basin at west side of South ParterreGrade II
- Monument to Capability Brown to west of Broad WaterGrade II
- Monument to Thomas Hutton 155m west of the Archer PavilionGrade II
- Railings, gates, piers and urns to south side of South Parterre (also known as the French Garden)Grade II
- Statue at West End of Ladies LakeGrade II
- Statue of Apollo 40m south of West Half HouseGrade II
- Statue of Atlas approximately 250m south-east of Wrest Park HouseGrade II
- Statue of Hercules in the south-east of Wrest ParkGrade II
- Statue of Infant with a Rabbit approximately 120m south-east of Bowling Green HouseGrade II
- Statue of Mercury and Cupid on East Side of Long Canal, 70m from North EndGrade II
- Sundial approximately 270m south of Wrest Park HouseGrade II
- The Hawking Party Statue 150m south of The Orangery (formerly listed as Equestrian Statue Group)Grade II
- Walled Garden immediately West of Wrest Park House, including Linking Screen WallGrade II
- West Half HouseGrade II
- Western Lodge of Pair Called Brabury LodgesGrade II
- WhitehallGrade II
Nearby conservation areas
Boundary and listed buildings from Central Bedfordshire Council and Historic England via planning.data.gov.uk (OGL). Guidance only — not an official council check.