About the Leeds, Upper Street Conservation Area
The Leeds, Upper Street Conservation Area covers about 3.3 hectares and was designated by Maidstone Borough Council in 1977. Inside the boundary are 14 listed buildings (1 Grade II*, 13 Grade II). The most significant is Vineys Cottages, Grade II*. 16 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.
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.
- Vineys CottagesGrade II*
- Chapel CottagesGrade II
- Churchill CottagesGrade II
- Forge HouseGrade II
- Fox CottageGrade II
- Gambia CottagesGrade II
- Ledian FarmhouseGrade II
- Leeds StoresGrade II
- Little FoxesGrade II
- Milstead CottageGrade II
- Oasts Circa 3 Yards South of Tower CottageGrade II
- The Old Post OfficeGrade II
- Tower CottageGrade II
- Yew Tree HouseGrade II
The council’s appraisal
WEBLeeds, Upper 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.