About the Lopen Conservation Area
The Lopen Conservation Area covers about 8.0 hectares and was designated by Somerset Council in 1978. Inside the boundary are 17 listed buildings (1 Grade II*, 16 Grade II). The most significant is Church of All Saints, 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.
- Church of All SaintsGrade II*
- Apple HayGrade II
- Ballarat FarmhouseGrade II
- Church Farmhouse, And Attached Sunday School Room, With Boundary Walling and Railings on South SideGrade II
- Court Farm HouseGrade II
- Cross Tree House, With Front Boundary Wall and RailingsGrade II
- Fragment of Cross Shaft at Base of Tree at Corner of Road JunctionGrade II
- Knapp CottageGrade II
- Lopen Farmhouse, And Front Boundary RailingsGrade II
- Lopen War MemorialGrade II
- Shores Farmhouse, And Front Boundary WallGrade II
- The Little CottageGrade II
- The Old Bailiffs CottageGrade II
- The WildernessGrade II
- Unidentified Monument in Churchyard, About One Metre South of Porch, Church of All SaintsGrade II
- Village Pound and Bier HouseGrade II
- West and South Boundary Walls and Railings to Knapp CottageGrade II
The council’s appraisal
WEBLopen 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.