About the Preston Conservation Area
The Preston Conservation Area covers about 21 hectares and was designated by North Hertfordshire District Council in 1990. Inside the boundary are 20 listed buildings (1 Grade II*, 19 Grade II). The most significant is Princess Helena College, Temple Dinsley, With Terraces, Steps, Walls, Railings, Gates, Pergolas, And Garden Buildings, Grade II*.
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.
- Princess Helena College, Temple Dinsley, With Terraces, Steps, Walls, Railings, Gates, Pergolas, And Garden BuildingsGrade II*
- Barn on Roadside Now Garage to Spindle CottageGrade II
- Chequers Cottages, Numbers 1 to 6 Inclusive and 3 Linked Rear OuthousesGrade II
- Church of St Martin (church of England)Grade II
- Crunnells Green CottageGrade II
- Fig Tree CottageGrade II
- K6 Telephone KioskGrade II
- Laburnam LodgeGrade II
- Lychgate to Churchyard of Church of St MartinGrade II
- Mausoleum in North West Corner of Churchyard at Church of St MartinGrade II
- Park Wall Facing School Lane and 2 Pairs of Gatepiers and Flanking Walls at Main Gate to Princess Helena College, Opposite Crunnell's GreenGrade II
- Sadleirs EndGrade II
- Spindle CottageGrade II
- St Martin's PlaceGrade II
- The Chequers With Wall and Outhouses Fronting Chequer LaneGrade II
- The Dower House, Princess Helena CollegeGrade II
- The Old ForgeGrade II
- The Red Lion Public HouseGrade II
- Vine CottageGrade II
- Well, Wellhead Gear and WellhouseGrade II
The council’s appraisal
WEBPreston Conservation Area AppraisalNorth Hertfordshire District 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 North Hertfordshire District Council and Historic England via planning.data.gov.uk (OGL). Guidance only — not an official council check.