About the Dunster Conservation Area
The Dunster Conservation Area covers about 57 hectares and was designated by Exmoor National Park in 1973. Inside the boundary are 112 listed buildings (4 Grade I, 6 Grade II*, 102 Grade II). The most significant is Dunster Castle and Gatehouse, 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.
ProjectElsewhereIn Dunster 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.
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.
- Dunster Castle and GatehouseGrade I
- Gallox BridgeGrade I
- Priory Church of St GeorgeGrade I
- Yarn MarketGrade I
- 4, 6 and 8, Church StreetGrade II*
- Butter CrossGrade II*
- Castle Mill and Attached Gateway and GateGrade II*
- DovecoteGrade II*
- Stables, Dunster CastleGrade II*
- The Luttrell Arms HotelGrade II*
- 1, Castle HillGrade II
- 10, Castle HillGrade II
- 12 and 14, High StreetGrade II
- 13, West StreetGrade II
- 14 and 16, Church StreetGrade II
- 16, High StreetGrade II
- 18, Church StreetGrade II
- 19 and 21, High StreetGrade II
- 2 and 4, Castle HillGrade II
- 23, West StreetGrade II
- 24, Church StreetGrade II
- 24, High StreetGrade II
- 24, West StreetGrade II
- 26 and 28, Church StreetGrade II
Show all 112 listed buildings ↓All 112 listed buildings
- 27 and 29, West StreetGrade II
- 28 and 30, Park StreetGrade II
- 3, Castle HillGrade II
- 31, West StreetGrade II
- 32, HIGH STREET (See details for further address information)Grade II
- 4, High StreetGrade II
- 4, The BallGrade II
- 5 and 7, Priory GreenGrade II
- 5-10, The BallGrade II
- 6, Castle HillGrade II
- 6, High StreetGrade II
- 7, Castle HillGrade II
- 7, Mill LaneGrade II
- 8, Castle HillGrade II
- 8, High StreetGrade II
- 9, West StreetGrade II
- ArdithGrade II
- BlenheimGrade II
- Bridge Over River Avill in the Old Park to the East of the CastleGrade II
- Brook Cottage and Oldstream CottageGrade II
- CarmelGrade II
- Castle Home FarmhouseGrade II
- Castle HotelGrade II
- Castle Mill BridgeGrade II
- Chapel House Fronting St George's Street George Deakin's StudioGrade II
- Cobblestones GlencroftGrade II
- Conygar TowerGrade II
- Cross in Churchyard 20 Metres West of ChurchGrade II
- DarajiniGrade II
- Dollon's HouseGrade II
- Dunster County Primary SchoolGrade II
- Dunster County Primary School Main School BuildingGrade II
- Dunster Post OfficeGrade II
- Exmoor House HotelGrade II
- Fair ViewGrade II
- Granary, Castle Home FarmyardGrade II
- Grove HouseGrade II
- Hartlip HouseGrade II
- HathawaysGrade II
- Hay Barn, North of Castle Home FarmhouseGrade II
- HomeleighGrade II
- J H Parham's General StoreGrade II
- K6 Telephone Kiosk, Park StreetGrade II
- K6 Telephone Kiosk, The BallGrade II
- Kennels, At East Side of Entrance to Castle Home FarmyardGrade II
- Linhay, East of Castle Home Farmhouse Alongside Castle HillGrade II
- No 30 and Adjoining Shop (e Dyer)Grade II
- Number 18 Including Railings and GateGrade II
- Old CottageGrade II
- Old Frackford BridgeGrade II
- Osborne HouseGrade II
- Perrycroft the Sweet PeaGrade II
- RiversideGrade II
- Rose CottageGrade II
- South Wall of Churchyard and GatewayGrade II
- SpearscrossGrade II
- Stags Head HouseGrade II
- Stone Archway Adjoining Tithe Barn to the NorthGrade II
- Stone Archway and Adjoining GarageGrade II
- Stone Wall on North Side of Priory Green Including Wall Running North Adjoining No 12 Priory GreenGrade II
- Stone Wall Running South From No 18 St Georges Street Around Into Priory GreenGrade II
- Summerhouse, In Grounds of Castle to the West of the CastleGrade II
- SunnysideGrade II
- TamariskGrade II
- The Archer HouseGrade II
- The Bantam ShopGrade II
- The Black KnightGrade II
- The CageGrade II
- The Crooked WindowGrade II
- The Dunster PotteryGrade II
- The Gables CarveryGrade II
- The GreenGrade II
- The Olde HouseGrade II
- The OvalGrade II
- The PoundGrade II
- The Stags HeadGrade II
- The Tea ShoppeGrade II
- The White HouseGrade II
- The Yarn Market Cafe the Yarn Market ShopGrade II
- Thyme CottageGrade II
- Tithe BarnGrade II
- Tithe Cottage Walnut CottageGrade II
- Torre Cottage Zwan AntiquesGrade II
- Wall Bounding North Side of Church Street Between 16 and 18 Church StreetGrade II
- Wall on South Side of Priory Green From Tithe Barn and Across the Front of Nos 5 and 7 Priory GreenGrade II
- WestburyGrade II
- WestleighGrade II
- Woodville HouseGrade II
Streets in the conservation area
Streets with listed buildings inside the boundary. Boundaries often split a street — check your exact address.
Castle HillHigh StreetWest StreetChurch StreetPark StreetMill LanePriory Green
The council’s appraisal
WEBDunster Conservation Area AppraisalExmoor National Park’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 Exmoor National Park and Historic England via planning.data.gov.uk (OGL). Guidance only — not an official council check.