About the Sway Tower Conservation Area
The Sway Tower Conservation Area covers about 13 hectares and was designated by New Forest National Park in 2009. Inside the boundary are 8 listed buildings (1 Grade II*, 7 Grade II). The most significant is Peterson's Tower, Grade II*. 2 Article 4 directions over the area remove further householder rights, on top of the conservation area limits below. 1 Tree Preservation Order record 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.
- ARTICLE 4 DIRECTION NP NEW FOREST CAMPSITEChange of use
- ARTICLE 4 DIRECTION NP NEW FOREST RECREATIONAL CAMPSITEChange of use
- New Forest National Park BoundaryHouseholder works
- New Forest National Park BoundaryHouseholder 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.
- Peterson's TowerGrade II*
- Arnewood CourtGrade II
- Avon Water HouseGrade II
- Drunduan FarmhouseGrade II
- Gateway to Arnewood Court Beside South LodgeGrade II
- North Lodge and Attached Former Stableblock to Arnewood CourtGrade II
- South LodgeGrade II
- Trial Tower South of North Lodge and StableblockGrade II
The council’s appraisal
WEBSway Tower Conservation Area AppraisalNew Forest National Park’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 New Forest National Park and Historic England via planning.data.gov.uk (OGL). Guidance only — not an official council check.