About the Bearsted, Holy Cross Church Conservation Area
The Bearsted, Holy Cross Church Conservation Area covers about 4.0 hectares and was designated by Maidstone Borough Council in 1992. Inside the boundary are 6 listed buildings (1 Grade I, 5 Grade II). The most significant is Church of the Holy Cross, Grade I. 1 Article 4 direction over the area removes further householder rights, on top of the conservation area limits below. 26 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.
- Land at Church LandwayHouseholder 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.
- Church of the Holy CrossGrade I
- Mote HouseGrade II
- Table Tomb 2 Yards South East of Porch of Church of the Holy CrossGrade II
- Table Tomb of Duckelbery Family Immediately South of Vestry of Church of the Holy CrossGrade II
- Table Tomb Packman Family 1 Yard East of Vestry of Church of the Holy CrossGrade II
- War Memorial North West of Church of the Holy CrossGrade II
The council’s appraisal
WEBBearsted, Holy Cross Church Conservation Area AppraisalMaidstone 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 Maidstone Borough Council and Historic England via planning.data.gov.uk (OGL). Guidance only — not an official council check.