About the Old Harlow Conservation Area
The Old Harlow Conservation Area covers about 17 hectares and was designated by Harlow District Council in 1969. Inside the boundary are 37 listed buildings (3 Grade II*, 34 Grade II). The most significant is Hill House, Grade II*. 3 Article 4 directions over the area remove further householder rights, on top of the conservation area limits below. 12 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.
- 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.
- Park Hill and Mulberry TerraceHouseholder works
- HMO - townwideChange of use
- Old Harlow (Bury Road, New Road, High Street and Old Road)Householder works
- High Street- 79-97 (odds)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.
- Hill HouseGrade II*
- Mulberry Green House and StablesGrade II*
- The GablesGrade II*
- 1, Park HillGrade II
- 17 and 19, Fore StreetGrade II
- 2, High StreetGrade II
- 2, Old RoadGrade II
- 21, Fore StreetGrade II
- 23 and 25, Fore StreetGrade II
- 3, 5, 7 and 9, Mulberry GreenGrade II
- 30 and 32, High StreetGrade II
- 34, High StreetGrade II
- 38, Market StreetGrade II
- 4, Old RoadGrade II
- 42-48, Market StreetGrade II
- 54, 56 and 58, Market StreetGrade II
- Chestnut CottageGrade II
- Church of St John the BaptistGrade II
- CotswoldGrade II
- Former George HotelGrade II
- Gateway to Hill HouseGrade II
- Granary CottageGrade II
- Harlow Baptist ChurchGrade II
- HemsfordGrade II
Show all 37 listed buildings ↓All 37 listed buildings
- MarigoldsGrade II
- Marquis of Granby Public HouseGrade II
- Numbers 7 and 9 (fronting on London Road)Grade II
- NunnsGrade II
- St John's CottageGrade II
- The Chequers Public HouseGrade II
- The Crown Public HouseGrade II
- The Dormer CottageGrade II
- The Green Man Public House and HotelGrade II
- The Old ForgeGrade II
- The WayreGrade II
- Wall, Extending For 11 Bays, East of Number 30Grade II
- West HouseGrade 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
WEBOld Harlow Conservation Area AppraisalHarlow 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 Harlow District Council and Historic England via planning.data.gov.uk (OGL). Guidance only — not an official council check.