About the Leeds, Lower Street Conservation Area
The Leeds, Lower Street Conservation Area covers about 5.4 hectares and was designated by Maidstone Borough Council in 1977. Inside the boundary are 21 listed buildings (1 Grade I, 1 Grade II*, 19 Grade II). The most significant is Church of St Nicholas, Grade I. 4 Tree Preservation Order records overlap the area; every other tree here still needs six weeks’ notice before work. 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.
- 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.
- Church of St NicholasGrade I
- Manor HouseGrade II*
- Abbey Mill HouseGrade II
- Brook HouseGrade II
- Empire Cottage GalleryGrade II
- Foley Farm CottageGrade II
- Foley FarmhouseGrade II
- Foley OastGrade II
- Lower Flat Oast View Supply Stores Supply Stores House Upper Flat Oast ViewGrade II
- Monument to Mr Thomas Porter Circa 17 Yards South East of South Chapel of Church of St NicholasGrade II
- Monument to Richard Saxby of Caring, 2 Yards South East of South Chapel of Church of St NicholasGrade II
- Outbuilding Circa 3 Yards North West of Abbey Mill HouseGrade II
- Stanley CottagesGrade II
- Table Tomb Circa 12 Yards East of South Chapel of Church of St NicholasGrade II
- Table Tomb One Foot East of Chancel of Church of St NicholasGrade II
- Table Tomb One Yard East of South Chapel of Church of St NicholasGrade II
- Table Tomb to John Homewood Circa 12 Yards North West of West Tower of Church of St NicholasGrade II
- The George InnGrade II
- The Old BakeryGrade II
- Wall Monument to Elizabeth Meredith on East (outside) Wall of North Chapel of Church of St NicholasGrade II
- Woodbine CottageGrade II
The council’s appraisal
WEBLeeds, Lower Street 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.