About the Sturminster Marshall Conservation Area
The Sturminster Marshall Conservation Area covers about 11 hectares and was designated by Dorset Council in 1987. Inside the boundary are 12 listed buildings (1 Grade II*, 11 Grade II). The most significant is Church of St Mary the Virgin, Grade II*. 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.
- Stour Valley, (East of Sturminster Marshall)Householder 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.
- Church of St Mary the VirginGrade II*
- 176-188, Church StreetGrade II
- Churchyard Cross 15 Metres South West of TowerGrade II
- Churchyard Cross 20 Metres West of TowerGrade II
- Churchyard WallGrade II
- Forge CottageGrade II
- Maypole CottageGrade II
- StourfieldGrade II
- Sturminster Marshall War MemorialGrade II
- Table Tomb 25 Metres South West of TowerGrade II
- Trafalgar CottageGrade II
- Walden CottageGrade II
Nearby conservation areas
Boundary and listed buildings from Dorset Council and Historic England via planning.data.gov.uk (OGL). Guidance only — not an official council check.