About the Town Centre Conservation Area 1 Conservation Area
The Town Centre Conservation Area 1 Conservation Area covers about 11 hectares and was designated by Luton Borough Council in 1998. Inside the boundary are 25 listed buildings, all 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.
- Luton Town Centre and Surrounds (2023)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.
- 1, George Street WestGrade II
- 11, George Street WestGrade II
- 13, 15 and 17, George Street WestGrade II
- 19, George Street WestGrade II
- 2-8, Castle StreetGrade II
- 21, George StreetGrade II
- 23-27, King StreetGrade II
- 29-37, King StreetGrade II
- 3, George Street WestGrade II
- 32, George StreetGrade II
- 39, King StreetGrade II
- 5, Castle StreetGrade II
- 6, George Street WestGrade II
- 63, George StreetGrade II
- 7 and 9, George Street WestGrade II
- 8 and 10, George Street WestGrade II
- 9a, George Street WestGrade II
- Christ ChurchGrade II
- Luton Town HallGrade II
- Railings at Number 3Grade II
- Red Lion HotelGrade II
- The Griffin Public HouseGrade II
- The Nickel Bag Public HouseGrade II
- The White Hart Public HouseGrade II
Show all 25 listed buildings ↓All 25 listed buildings
- War MemorialGrade 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
PDFTown Centre Conservation Area 1 Conservation Area AppraisalLuton Borough 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 Luton Borough Council and Historic England via planning.data.gov.uk (OGL). Guidance only — not an official council check.