About the Ely Conservation Area
The Ely Conservation Area covers about 198 hectares and was designated by East Cambridgeshire District Council in 1975. Inside the boundary are 191 listed buildings (25 Grade I, 7 Grade II*, 159 Grade II). The most significant is Almonry, Sacrists Hall, Gate and Goldsmiths Tower the Almonry, Grade I. 149 Article 4 directions over the area remove further householder rights, on top of the conservation area limits below. 19 Tree Preservation Order records overlap the area; every other tree here still needs six weeks’ notice before work.
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.
ProjectElsewhereIn Ely CA
- 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.
- 1 & 19 Castlehythe, ElyHouseholder works
- 1 Barton Road, ElyHouseholder works
- 1 Cambridge Road, ElyHouseholder works
- 1 Springhead Lane, ElyHouseholder works
- 1 West Fen Road, ElyHouseholder works
- 1-12 The Range, ElyHouseholder works
- 1-15 (odds) Bernard Street, ElyHouseholder works
- 1-15 (odds) Chiefs Street, ElyHouseholder works
- 1-15 (odds) Cromwell Road, ElyHouseholder works
- 1-15 (odds) Parade Lane, ElyHouseholder works
- 1-15 Hills Lane, ElyHouseholder works
- 1-1a West End, ElyHouseholder works
- 1-35 (odds) Victoria Street, ElyHouseholder works
- 1-5 (odds) Waterside, ElyHouseholder works
- 1-55 (odds) Deacons Lane, ElyHouseholder works
- 1-7 (odds) New Barns Road, ElyHouseholder works
- 1, 3, 9, 11-15 (odds) Beech Lane, ElyHouseholder works
- 10 Broad Street, ElyHouseholder works
- 10-14 (evens) Downham Road, ElyHouseholder works
- 10-20 (evens) Chiefs Street, ElyHouseholder works
- 104-114 (evens) Broad Street, ElyHouseholder works
- 116-118 Broad Street, ElyHouseholder works
- 122 Broad Street, ElyHouseholder works
- 126-128 Broad Street, ElyHouseholder works
- 12a-18 (evens) Egremont Street, ElyHouseholder works
- 13-15 (odds) Barton Road, ElyHouseholder works
- 13-15 (odds) Prickwillow Road, ElyHouseholder works
- 13-25 (odds) Cambridge Road, ElyHouseholder works
- 130-134 Broad Street, ElyHouseholder works
- 14-14a (evens) Back Hill, ElyHouseholder works
- 16 Back Hill, ElyHouseholder works
- 16-24 (evens) Newnham Street, ElyHouseholder works
- 17-19 Back Hill, ElyHouseholder works
- 17-25 (odds) Vineyards, ElyHouseholder works
- 17-31 (odds) New Barns Road, ElyHouseholder works
- 18 Barton Road, ElyHouseholder works
- 18 Downham Road, ElyHouseholder works
- 18-22 (evens) Back Hill, ElyHouseholder works
- 18-22 (evens) Lynn Road, ElyHouseholder works
- 18, 16 & 16a Church Lane, ElyHouseholder works
- 19 Broad Street, ElyHouseholder works
- 19-25 (odds) Silver Street, ElyHouseholder works
- 2 Church Lane, ElyHouseholder works
- 2-16 (evens) Cromwell Road, ElyHouseholder works
- 2-20 (evens) Bernard Street, ElyHouseholder works
- 2-30 (evens) Nutholt Lane, ElyHouseholder works
- 2-36 (evens) Victoria Street, ElyHouseholder works
- 2-4 (evens) Back Hill, ElyHouseholder works
- 2-4 Prickwillow Road, ElyHouseholder works
- 2-6 (evens) Egremont Street, ElyHouseholder works
- 2-8 (evens) Barton Road, ElyHouseholder works
- 2, 4, 6 & 7 Barton Square, ElyHouseholder works
- 20-22 Egremont Street, ElyHouseholder works
- 20-22a (evens) Station Road, ElyHouseholder works
- 20-30 Broad Street, ElyHouseholder works
- 20-36 (evens) Chapel Street, ElyHouseholder works
- 21-25 (odds) Downham Road, ElyHouseholder works
- 21-27 (odds) West Fen Road, ElyHouseholder works
- 21-29 (odds) Egremont Street, ElyHouseholder works
- 22-32 (evens) Downham Road, ElyHouseholder works
- 22-36 (evens) St Johns Road, ElyHouseholder works
- 23-29 Hills Lane, ElyHouseholder works
- 24 Back Hill, ElyHouseholder works
- 24 Egremont Street, ElyHouseholder works
- 24-28 (evens) New Barns Road, ElyHouseholder works
- 24-46 (evens) Silver Street, ElyHouseholder works
- 25 Lynn Road, ElyHouseholder works
- 26 Parade Lane, ElyHouseholder works
- 26-44 (evens) Prickwillow Road, ElyHouseholder works
- 27 & 29 Waterside, ElyHouseholder works
- 27 Cambridge Road, ElyHouseholder works
- 27-33 (odds) Downham Road, ElyHouseholder works
- 28, 32 & 34 Chiefs Street, ElyHouseholder works
- 3-15 (odds) West End, ElyHouseholder works
- 3-9 (odds) Nutholt Lane, ElyHouseholder works
- 30-36 (evens) Barton Road, ElyHouseholder works
- 30, 36A-38 (evens) Lynn Road, ElyHouseholder works
- 31-37 (evens) Back Hill, ElyHouseholder works
- 32 West End, ElyHouseholder works
- 32-42 (evens) Cambridge Road, ElyHouseholder works
- 32A, 34, 36, 38 West EndHouseholder works
- 33-35 (odds) St Marys Street, ElyHouseholder works
- 33-47 (odds) Cambridge Road, ElyHouseholder works
- 33-47 (odds) New Barns Road, ElyHouseholder works
- 33a-45 (odds) Downham Road, ElyHouseholder works
- 34 Broad Street, ElyHouseholder works
- 35 Chapel Street, ElyHouseholder works
- 35-37 Prickwillow Road, ElyHouseholder works
- 35-43 (evens) Hills Lane, ElyHouseholder works
- 35-43 (odds) West Fen Road, ElyHouseholder works
- 36 Annesdale, ElyHouseholder works
- 37-41 Annesdale, ElyHouseholder works
- 38 & 40 Chapel Street, ElyHouseholder works
- 38-46 (evens) Barton Road, ElyHouseholder works
- 39 Back Hill, ElyHouseholder works
- 39 Broad Street, ElyHouseholder works
- 4 & 8a Downham Road, ElyHouseholder works
- 4 St Marys Street, ElyHouseholder works
- 4-24 (evens) Parade Lane, ElyHouseholder works
- 40-44 (evens) Lynn Road, ElyHouseholder works
- 40-50 (evens) Broad Street, ElyHouseholder works
- 40-56 (evens) Back Hill, ElyHouseholder works
- 42-46 (evens) Chapel Street, ElyHouseholder works
- 42-50 (evens) Waterside, ElyHouseholder works
- 43 Prickwillow Road, ElyHouseholder works
- 43-45 (odds) Lynn Road, ElyHouseholder works
- 44-56 (evens) Forehill, ElyHouseholder works
- 44a Prickwillow Road, ElyHouseholder works
- 45 Prickwillow Road, ElyHouseholder works
- 45-57 (odds) West Fen Road, ElyHouseholder works
- 46-56 (evens) Newnham Street, ElyHouseholder works
- 46-78 (evens) Lynn Road, ElyHouseholder works
- 48 & 50 Chapel Street, ElyHouseholder works
- 49-51 Cambridge Road, ElyHouseholder works
- 5 & 7 Chapel Street, ElyHouseholder works
- 5 & 7 West Fen Road, ElyHouseholder works
- 5 Barton Road, ElyHouseholder works
- 5-19 (odds) Egremont Street, ElyHouseholder works
- 50-60 (evens) West End, ElyHouseholder works
- 51-53 Broad Street, ElyHouseholder works
- 51-65 (odds) Prickwillow Road, ElyHouseholder works
- 51, 53, 57 (odds) Silver Street, ElyHouseholder works
- 53-59 (odds) Cambridge Road, ElyHouseholder works
- 54-60 (evens) Silver Street, ElyHouseholder works
- 56-58 (evens) Broad Street, ElyHouseholder works
- 56-66 (evens) Barton Road, ElyHouseholder works
- 58 New Barns Road, ElyHouseholder works
- 59-63 Broad Street, ElyHouseholder works
- 5a Little Lane, ElyHouseholder works
- 6, 10, 12, 14, 18 & 22 Springhead Lane, ElyHouseholder works
- 6, 9 & 11 Vineyards, ElyHouseholder works
- 60 Broad Street, ElyHouseholder works
- 61 Deacons Lane, ElyHouseholder works
- 61-63 (odds) Silver Street, ElyHouseholder works
- 61-69 (odds) Cambridge Road, ElyHouseholder works
- 62 St Marys Street, ElyHouseholder works
- 62-70 (evens) Broad Street, ElyHouseholder works
- 66-72 (evens) Back Hill, ElyHouseholder works
- 7-9 (odds) Cambridge Road, ElyHouseholder works
- 72-74 Broad Street, ElyHouseholder works
- 75-77 (odds) Deacons Lane, ElyHouseholder works
- 77-83 (odds) Newnham Street, ElyHouseholder works
- 78 Back Hill, ElyHouseholder works
- 8 & 12 Station Road, ElyHouseholder works
- 82-88 Broad Street, ElyHouseholder works
- 88-90 (evens) St Marys Street, ElyHouseholder works
- 9 Barton Square, ElyHouseholder works
- 9-11 (odds) Barton Road, ElyHouseholder works
- 9-15 (evens) West Fen Road, ElyHouseholder 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.
- Almonry, Sacrists Hall, Gate and Goldsmiths Tower the AlmonryGrade I
- Almonry, Sacrists Hall, Gate and Goldsmiths Tower the Sacristy Gate and Goldsmith's TowerGrade I
- Barn and Storehouse of the MonasteryGrade I
- Barn to south-west of St John's FarmhouseGrade I
- Bishop's Palace Bishop's Palace (the Palace School)Grade I
- Cathedral of the Holy TrinityGrade I
- Cellarers House (Boarding House of King's School)Grade I
- Dove house to St John's FarmGrade I
- Ely PortaGrade I
- Guest Quarters of the MonasteryGrade I
- Infirmary hall to the north of St John's Farmhouse (formerly Barn to the north of St John's Farmhouse)Grade I
- Parish Church of St MaryGrade I
- Powcher's HallGrade I
- Prior Craudens ChapelGrade I
- Prior's House (Boarding House of the Kings School)Grade I
- St John's FarmhouseGrade I
- Stables to Bishop's PalaceGrade I
- The Black Hostelry and Cellarers ChamberGrade I
- The Chapel of the Infirmary (Deanery)Grade I
- The Dark CloisterGrade I
- The Great Hall (Bishop's residence)Grade I
- The Painted Chamber (Walsingham House)Grade I
- The Queen's Hall (Headmaster's House)Grade I
- Wall to the Garden of the the Almonry and Painted ChamberGrade I
Show all 191 listed buildings ↓All 191 listed buildings
- Walls to the Guest Quarters of the Monastery and Ely PortaGrade I
- 3 Palace GreenGrade II*
- 41 and 41a, Broad StreetGrade II*
- Hill HouseGrade II*
- Nos. 16 and 18 High Street (including Steeple Gate)Grade II*
- Oliver Cromwell's HouseGrade II*
- Sessions HouseGrade II*
- The ChantryGrade II*
- 1, Market PlaceGrade II
- 11 High Street, Ely (formerly known as Premises Occupied by H J Cutlack)Grade II
- 11, Cambridge RoadGrade II
- 12-14, High StreetGrade II
- 12, Chapel StreetGrade II
- 13 and 15, Newnham StreetGrade II
- 13, St Mary's StreetGrade II
- 15 and 17, WatersideGrade II
- 15, St Mary's StreetGrade II
- 16, Hills LaneGrade II
- 17, St Mary's StreetGrade II
- 18, 20 and 22, Market StreetGrade II
- 18, Chapel StreetGrade II
- 19-23, St Marys StreetGrade II
- 2 and 2a Chapel Street and 15 Lynn Road, formerly 2 Chapel StreetGrade II
- 2 Waterside and 58 Fore HillGrade II
- 2-4, St Mary's StreetGrade II
- 2, DOWNHAM ROAD (See details for further address information)Grade II
- 2, Fore HillGrade II
- 2, High StreetGrade II
- 2, The GalleryGrade II
- 2, West EndGrade II
- 20, St Mary's StreetGrade II
- 21 and 23, Lynn RoadGrade II
- 21 and 23, WatersideGrade II
- 21a and 23, High StreetGrade II
- 22 and 22a, St Marys StreetGrade II
- 22, Fore HillGrade II
- 23 Broad StreetGrade II
- 24, St Marys StreetGrade II
- 25 Broad StreetGrade II
- 25, WatersideGrade II
- 27 and 29, Newnham StreetGrade II
- 27, Lynn RoadGrade II
- 28, St Mary's StreetGrade II
- 29-33, West Fen RoadGrade II
- 29a, St Mary's StreetGrade II
- 3 and 5, Downham RoadGrade II
- 3 High Street PassageGrade II
- 3, Chequers LaneGrade II
- 3, The GalleryGrade II
- 30, Egremont StreetGrade II
- 30, St Mary's StreetGrade II
- 31 and 33, WatersideGrade II
- 31, Egremont StreetGrade II
- 33 High StreetGrade II
- 34, St Mary's StreetGrade II
- 35-39, WatersideGrade II
- 35-41, Market StreetGrade II
- 35, Fore HillGrade II
- 36 and 38, WatersideGrade II
- 38a St Mary's StreetGrade II
- 39, Fore HillGrade II
- 4 and 5, The GalleryGrade II
- 4 and 6, WatersideGrade II
- 4, Chapel StreetGrade II
- 4, Church LaneGrade II
- 4, West EndGrade II
- 40 and 42, St Mary's StreetGrade II
- 40, WatersideGrade II
- 41-45, WatersideGrade II
- 41, Fore HillGrade II
- 41, High StreetGrade II
- 45, Hills LaneGrade II
- 46, St Mary's StreetGrade II
- 47, WatersideGrade II
- 48 St Mary's StreetGrade II
- 49a, High StreetGrade II
- 5 Market PlaceGrade II
- 5, High StreetGrade II
- 5, Silver StreetGrade II
- 50, St Mary's StreetGrade II
- 51 and 53, WatersideGrade II
- 52 and 54, St Mary's StreetGrade II
- 52, WatersideGrade II
- 52a, WatersideGrade II
- 54, Broad StreetGrade II
- 54, QuaysideGrade II
- 56 and 58, QuaysideGrade II
- 56-60, St Mary's StreetGrade II
- 6 and 8, Broad StreetGrade II
- 6, St Marys StreetGrade II
- 6, The GalleryGrade II
- 6, West EndGrade II
- 60-68, Market StreetGrade II
- 60, QuaysideGrade II
- 62 and 64, QuaysideGrade II
- 64, West EndGrade II
- 65 and 67 WatersideGrade II
- 7 and 8, The GalleryGrade II
- 7 and 9 Market PlaceGrade II
- 7-11, Newnham StreetGrade II
- 7-11, WATERSIDE (See details for further address information)Grade II
- 7-13, Silver StreetGrade II
- 70, St Mary's StreetGrade II
- 72, St Marys StreetGrade II
- 74, St Mary's StreetGrade II
- 74A, Broad StreetGrade II
- 76-80, St Mary's StreetGrade II
- 8-12 West EndGrade II
- 8-12, WatersideGrade II
- 82 and 84 St Mary's StreetGrade II
- 86, St Mary's StreetGrade II
- 9 and 11, Chapel StreetGrade II
- 90-94 Broad StreetGrade II
- 96, Broad StreetGrade II
- A medieval wall on the south side of Chapel StreetGrade II
- Archer HouseGrade II
- Barn to Number 3Grade II
- Black Bull Public HouseGrade II
- CastlehytheGrade II
- CastlehytheGrade II
- CastlehytheGrade II
- CastlehytheGrade II
- CastlehytheGrade II
- CastlehytheGrade II
- Church of St Peter in ElyGrade II
- Coach House and Stable Block to East of Number 1Grade II
- Congregational ChapelGrade II
- Cutter Public HouseGrade II
- Egremont HouseGrade II
- Ely MaltingsGrade II
- Fountain Public HouseGrade II
- Gazebo and Walls at MalabarsGrade II
- Huntingdon ManseGrade II
- Lamb HotelGrade II
- Lavender HouseGrade II
- Lloyds Bank and former Bank HouseGrade II
- Malthouse Adjoining Number 53Grade II
- Malting CottageGrade II
- No 4 Lynn RoadGrade II
- No. 47, FORE HILLGrade II
- Nos. 1, 2 and 3 John Beckett CourtGrade II
- Nos. 20, 22, 24 and 24A High StreetGrade II
- Old Brewery Barrel HouseGrade II
- Old Fire Engine HouseGrade II
- Old King William IV HouseGrade II
- Old Needhams School (cambridgeshire and Isle of Ely County Council Teacher's Centre)Grade II
- Palace Green CottageGrade II
- Parsons' AlmshousesGrade II
- Quayside HouseGrade II
- Royal Standard Public HouseGrade II
- St Mary's CottageGrade II
- St Mary's LodgeGrade II
- Telephone KioskGrade II
- The BarnGrade II
- Tower HospitalGrade II
- Vineyard LodgeGrade II
- Wall and Gates to the ChantryGrade II
- Wall to Bishop's Palace Walls to Bishop's PalaceGrade II
- Wall to Number 3Grade II
- Wall to Passageway at Rear of the Gardens to Castelhythe (station Road)Grade II
- Wall to St John's FarmGrade II
- Wall to the Barn and Storehouse of the MonasteryGrade II
- Wall to the garden of the Bishop's residenceGrade II
- Walls and Railings to Number 3Grade II
- Walls to the Gardens of the Prior's House and Guest HallGrade II
- Waterloo HouseGrade II
- White Hart HotelGrade II
Streets in the conservation area
Streets with listed buildings inside the boundary. Boundaries often split a street — check your exact address.
St Mary's StreetFore HillHigh StreetBroad StreetSt Marys StreetChapel StreetWest EndMarket StreetNewnham StreetEgremont StreetHills LaneLynn Road
The council’s appraisal
WEBEly Conservation Area AppraisalEast Cambridgeshire 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 East Cambridgeshire District Council and Historic England via planning.data.gov.uk (OGL). Guidance only — not an official council check.