About the Earl Soham Conservation Area
The Earl Soham Conservation Area covers about 18 hectares and was designated by East Suffolk Council in 1972. Inside the boundary are 27 listed buildings (1 Grade I, 2 Grade II*, 24 Grade II). The most significant is Church of St Mary, Grade I. 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.
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 MaryGrade I
- Street FarmhouseGrade II*
- The RookeryGrade II*
- Building 15 Metres East North East of Merlin HouseGrade II
- Cobbolds RowGrade II
- Earl Soham War MemorialGrade II
- Fir Tree CottageGrade II
- InglesideGrade II
- K6 Telephone KioskGrade II
- Merlin HouseGrade II
- Norfolk HouseGrade II
- Park Cottage and Honeysuckle CottageGrade II
- ScotchmersGrade II
- Serpentine Wall Immediately North East of the RookeryGrade II
- Stanwell CottagesGrade II
- Stanwell HouseGrade II
- The ChestnutsGrade II
- The CottageGrade II
- The ElmsGrade II
- The FalconGrade II
- The GablesGrade II
- The HawthornsGrade II
- The Malt HouseGrade II
- The Old RectoryGrade II
Show all 27 listed buildings ↓All 27 listed buildings
- The Red HouseGrade II
- The StoresGrade II
- The WillowsGrade II
The council’s appraisal
PDFEarl Soham Conservation Area AppraisalEast Suffolk 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 Suffolk Council and Historic England via planning.data.gov.uk (OGL). Guidance only — not an official council check.