About the Aston Conservation Area
The Aston Conservation Area covers about 20 hectares and was designated by East Hertfordshire District Council in 1979. Inside the boundary are 17 listed buildings (2 Grade II*, 15 Grade II). The most significant is 43 and 45, Benington Road, Grade II*. 1 Article 4 direction over the area removes further householder rights, on top of the conservation area limits below.
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.
- StevenageHouseholder 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.
- 43 and 45, Benington RoadGrade II*
- Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin (church of England)Grade II*
- 13, School LaneGrade II
- 4 and 6, Stringers LaneGrade II
- 41, Benington RoadGrade II
- Aston Park FarmhouseGrade II
- Barn at Rose and Crown Public House (10 Metres to North of Public House)Grade II
- Beehive CottageGrade II
- Glebe CottageGrade II
- Lych Gate at St Mary's Church (15 Metres to South of Porch)Grade II
- Number 24 Including Former SmithyGrade II
- Post OfficeGrade II
- Rose and Crown Public HouseGrade II
- Solomans PightleGrade II
- The Coach HouseGrade II
- The Pig and Whistle Public HouseGrade II
- War Memorial on St Mary's Churchyard (70 Metres to East of Church)Grade II
Streets in the conservation area
Streets with listed buildings inside the boundary. Boundaries often split a street — check your exact address.
The council’s appraisal
WEBAston Conservation Area AppraisalEast Hertfordshire 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 Hertfordshire District Council and Historic England via planning.data.gov.uk (OGL). Guidance only — not an official council check.