About the Benson Conservation Area
The Benson Conservation Area covers about 9.4 hectares and was designated by South Oxfordshire District Council in 1995. Inside the boundary are 48 listed buildings (2 Grade II*, 46 Grade II). The most significant is 2-6 High Street and Monarchs Court, 2 Mill Lane, 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.
- 2-6 High Street and Monarchs Court, 2 Mill LaneGrade II*
- Church of St HelenGrade II*
- 1 and 3, High StreetGrade II
- 1-5, Mill LaneGrade II
- 1, Brook StreetGrade II
- 1, Crown LaneGrade II
- 10, Castle SquareGrade II
- 11-15, High StreetGrade II
- 12, High StreetGrade II
- 15, Brook StreetGrade II
- 17, Brook StreetGrade II
- 2 and 4, Brook StreetGrade II
- 2 Castle Square and 1 and 2 Castle CloseGrade II
- 20 and 22, High StreetGrade II
- 21 and 23, Castle SquareGrade II
- 25 and 27, Castle SquareGrade II
- 26-32, High StreetGrade II
- 27, Brook StreetGrade II
- 29, Brook StreetGrade II
- 31 and 33, Brook StreetGrade II
- 34-40, High StreetGrade II
- 35 and 36 Observatory CloseGrade II
- 48, High StreetGrade II
- 5, Oxford RoadGrade II
Show all 48 listed buildings ↓All 48 listed buildings
- 7, High StreetGrade II
- 8 and 10, High StreetGrade II
- Benson War MemorialGrade II
- Calnan BrothersGrade II
- Castle CottageGrade II
- Castle FarmhouseGrade II
- Chest Tomb to Thomas Grantham Approximately 5 Metres West of Tower of Church of St HelenGrade II
- Chest Tomb to William Grantham Approximately 5 Metres West of Tower of Church of St HelenGrade II
- College Farmhouse and Attached Barns and OutbuildingsGrade II
- Headstone to Anne Gibbs Approximately 2 Metres South of Nave of Church of St HelenGrade II
- HomefieldGrade II
- Inn Sign Approximately 2 Metres to South West of Numbers 15 and 17 (the Castle Inn Public House)Grade II
- Ivy HouseGrade II
- Kingsford HouseGrade II
- Laurel CottageGrade II
- Mulberry CottageGrade II
- Numbers 4-8 and RailingsGrade II
- Paddock HouseGrade II
- The Castle Inn Public HouseGrade II
- The Crown Hotel Public House and BarnGrade II
- The Old VicarageGrade II
- The Round HouseGrade II
- The Three Horseshoes Public HouseGrade II
- The White Hart HotelGrade II
Streets in the conservation area
Streets with listed buildings inside the boundary. Boundaries often split a street — check your exact address.
Nearby conservation areas
Boundary and listed buildings from South Oxfordshire District Council and Historic England via planning.data.gov.uk (OGL). Guidance only — not an official council check.