About the Castle Conservation Area
The Castle Conservation Area covers about 9.3 hectares and was designated by Leicester City Council in 1969. Inside the boundary are 24 listed buildings (4 Grade I, 5 Grade II*, 15 Grade II). The most significant is Church of St Mary De Castro, Grade I. 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.
- 15, 17, 19 and 21 The NewarkeHouseholder works
- Leicester City Council HMO Article 4 Direction 2021Change of use
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 Mary De CastroGrade I
- Former County Court and remains of castleGrade I
- Magazine GatewayGrade I
- Turret GatewayGrade I
- Chantry HouseGrade II*
- Iron gates in garden at rear of Skeffington House, Newarke Houses MuseumGrade II*
- Newarke Wall, along north west end of gardens of Newarke Houses MuseumGrade II*
- Skeffington House, Newarke Houses MuseumGrade II*
- The Gate HouseGrade II*
- 5 and 6, Castle ViewGrade II
- 7, Castle ViewGrade II
- 8 and 9, Castle ViewGrade II
- Arches in Basement of De Montfort University, Hawthorn BuildingGrade II
- Bridge over River SoarGrade II
- Castle HouseGrade II
- Churchyard wall south west of churchyard fronting Castle ViewGrade II
- Deacon's WorkshopGrade II
- Former Gateway Boys' SchoolGrade II
- Gate, gatepiers and wall in front of and to east of 24, Castle Street (Castle House)Grade II
- Remains of Castle Wall North of County CourtGrade II
- Remains of St Marys Vicarage (the Chantry Building)Grade II
- Tower at west end of former S D Strettons and Sons Limited FactoryGrade II
- Trinity House, Formerly Trinity Hospital AlmshousesGrade II
- West BridgeGrade II
The council’s appraisal
WEBCastle Conservation Area AppraisalLeicester City 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 Leicester City Council and Historic England via planning.data.gov.uk (OGL). Guidance only — not an official council check.