About the Higher Town Conservation Area
The Higher Town Conservation Area covers about 24 hectares and was designated by Somerset Council in 1975. Inside the boundary are 44 listed buildings (1 Grade II*, 43 Grade II). The most significant is Parish Church of St Michael, Grade II*. 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.
- Parish Church of St MichaelGrade II*
- 1, Middle StreetGrade II
- 1, The CrossGrade II
- 1,3 and 5, Church StreetGrade II
- 11, Church StreetGrade II
- 14 and 16, Middle StreetGrade II
- 22, Vicarage RoadGrade II
- 25, Vicarage RoadGrade II
- 3 and 5, The CrossGrade II
- 3, 5 and 7, Middle StreetGrade II
- 5, Church StepsGrade II
- 7-19, The CrossGrade II
- 7, Church StepsGrade II
- 9 and 11, Middle StreetGrade II
- 9, Church StepsGrade II
- Church Farm Cottages and Attached WallGrade II
- ClevelandGrade II
- Cross Approximately 30 Metres to the North of Parish Church of St MichaelGrade II
- Elgin TowerGrade II
- Falkland CottaeGrade II
- Fern Cottage (number 7) and Attached Front Garden WallGrade II
- HolnicoteGrade II
- Lilac CottageGrade II
- Lower Moor CottageGrade II
Show all 44 listed buildings ↓All 44 listed buildings
- Lower Moor FarmhouseGrade II
- Minehead War MemorialGrade II
- Moorside CottageGrade II
- No 1 and Attached Wall to North EastGrade II
- No 2 and Attached WallsGrade II
- No 28 and Edgehill and Attached WallGrade II
- Norman CottageGrade II
- Nos 15 and 17 and Attached Wall and Gate Nos 15 and 17 Vicarage Road and Attached Wall and GateGrade II
- Nos 8 and 10 and Attached WallGrade II
- Old Lantern and Attached Rubblestone WallGrade II
- Old Malthouse and Attached Outhouse and WallsGrade II
- Outhouses and Wall to No 22Grade II
- Pilgrim CornerGrade II
- Shute FarmhouseGrade II
- Smugglers' Cottage and Attached WallsGrade II
- Stables, Gateway and Wall on Corner of Vicarage RoadGrade II
- Thatchcot and Attached OuthouseGrade II
- Thimble Thatch and Attached Wall Willow Cottage and Attached WallGrade II
- Walls and Gate to Parish Church of St MichaelGrade II
- Walnut Tree CottageGrade II
Streets in the conservation area
Streets with listed buildings inside the boundary. Boundaries often split a street — check your exact address.
The council’s appraisal
WEBHigher Town Conservation Area AppraisalSomerset 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 Somerset Council and Historic England via planning.data.gov.uk (OGL). Guidance only — not an official council check.