About the Merton Conservation Area
The Merton Conservation Area covers about 9.2 hectares within Torridge District Council’s area. Inside the boundary are 17 listed buildings (2 Grade II*, 15 Grade II). The most significant is Church of All Saints, 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.
- Church of All SaintsGrade II*
- Downes HouseGrade II*
- 1-4, Grange LaneGrade II
- 1,2 and 3, The SquareGrade II
- Adjoining Cottage to North East Laburnum Tanglewood ViewfieldGrade II
- Bounsell'sGrade II
- Bounsell's House and CottageGrade II
- Bowden Park CottagesGrade II
- Cherry CottageGrade II
- K6 Telephone Kiosk in The Square, MertonGrade II
- Malt Scoop Inn Village StoresGrade II
- Oxenham CourtGrade II
- Row of 4 Cottages Including Post OfficeGrade II
- Shepherd's CourtGrade II
- Thatched Cottage Approximately 30 Metres East of Oxenham CourtGrade II
- Three ChimneysGrade II
- Village HallGrade 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
WEBMerton Conservation Area AppraisalTorridge 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 Torridge District Council and Historic England via planning.data.gov.uk (OGL). Guidance only — not an official council check.