About the Thirsk and Sowerby Conservation Area
The Thirsk and Sowerby Conservation Area covers about 113 hectares and was designated by North Yorkshire Council in 1990. Inside the boundary are 80 listed buildings (1 Grade I, 2 Grade II*, 77 Grade II). The most significant is Church of St Mary, Grade I. 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.
ProjectElsewhereIn Thirsk and Sowerby CA
- 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 MaryGrade I
- Church of St OswaldGrade II*
- Thirsk HallGrade II*
- 1, IngramgateGrade II
- 10 and 12, KirkgateGrade II
- 10 and 12, Market PlaceGrade II
- 124-130, Front Street, SowerbyGrade II
- 13, 13a, 15 and 17, CastlegateGrade II
- 136a, Front Street, SowerbyGrade II
- 14-18, KirkgateGrade II
- 140, Front Street, SowerbyGrade II
- 142 and 144, Front Street, SowerbyGrade II
- 146 and 148, Front Street, SowerbyGrade II
- 15, IngramgateGrade II
- 172, Front Street, SowerbyGrade II
- 18-22, Finkle StreetGrade II
- 19 and 21, Finkle StreetGrade II
- 2-6, MARKET PLACE (See details for further address information)Grade II
- 2, Chapel StreetGrade II
- 21 and 23, KirkgateGrade II
- 21-27, Market PlaceGrade II
- 26 and 28, KirkgateGrade II
- 27, Front StreetGrade II
- 29, KirkgateGrade II
Show all 80 listed buildings ↓All 80 listed buildings
- 31, KirkgateGrade II
- 33, Front Street, SowerbyGrade II
- 33, KirkgateGrade II
- 35, 36 and 37, St James' GreenGrade II
- 35, KirkgateGrade II
- 38, St James' GreenGrade II
- 42-50, KIRKGATE (See details for further address information)Grade II
- 45, Market PlaceGrade II
- 46-52, Market PlaceGrade II
- 47-51, Front Street, SowerbyGrade II
- 60 and 62, Market PlaceGrade II
- 61 and 63, Market PlaceGrade II
- 68, Front Street, SowerbyGrade II
- 7-15, KirkgateGrade II
- 7, 9 and 11, IngramgateGrade II
- 71, Front Street, SowerbyGrade II
- 8-16, MillgateGrade II
- 8, St James' GreenGrade II
- 86 and 88, Front Street, SowerbyGrade II
- 90 and 90a, Front Street, SowerbyGrade II
- 96, Front Street, SowerbyGrade II
- 98, Front StreetGrade II
- At the Rear of Number 52Grade II
- Blakey BridgeGrade II
- Brick Wall to South of Thirsk Hall ForecourtGrade II
- Brick Walls to North of Thirsk HallGrade II
- Churchyard Wall With Piers and OverthrowsGrade II
- Cooperative StoreGrade II
- Crown and Anchor Public HouseGrade II
- Dovecot to South of Manor HouseGrade II
- Former business premises of Morts EquipmentGrade II
- Garden Wall Adjoining Number 172 to SouthGrade II
- Halifax Building SocietyGrade II
- Lansbury HouseGrade II
- Manor Farm Threshing Barn With Attached GingangGrade II
- Market Clock in centre, by the Post OfficeGrade II
- Mile Post Opposite Number 15Grade II
- Mill BridgeGrade II
- New BridgeGrade II
- Outbuilding Incorporating Dovecot to the South of Thirsk HallGrade II
- Stables of Thirsk Hall to the SouthGrade II
- The Black Bull Public HouseGrade II
- The Blacksmiths Arms Public HouseGrade II
- The Court House and Inspectors House with Front Wall and GateGrade II
- The Cross Keys Public HouseGrade II
- The Golden Fleece HotelGrade II
- The Manor HouseGrade II
- The Midland BankGrade II
- The Red Bear Public HouseGrade II
- The Royal Oak HotelGrade II
- The Royal Public HouseGrade II
- The Three Tuns HotelGrade II
- Thirsk Hall CottagesGrade II
- Thirsk Quaker Meeting House and Quaker CottageGrade II
- Town End BridgeGrade II
- Wrights ShopGrade II
Streets in the conservation area
Streets with listed buildings inside the boundary. Boundaries often split a street — check your exact address.
Market PlaceSt James' GreenFinkle StreetFront StreetChapel Street
The council’s appraisal
WEBThirsk and Sowerby Conservation Area AppraisalNorth Yorkshire 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 Yorkshire Council and Historic England via planning.data.gov.uk (OGL). Guidance only — not an official council check.