About the St Mary's Conservation Area
The St Mary's Conservation Area covers about 2.2 hectares and was designated by Watford Borough Council in 1975. Inside the boundary are 13 listed buildings (1 Grade I, 1 Grade II*, 11 Grade II). The most significant is Church of St Mary, Grade I.
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 St Mary's 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
- The Mrs Elizabeth Fuller Free SchoolGrade II*
- Bedford and Essex AlmshousesGrade II
- Clutterbuck Tomb 6 Metres South South East of Deacon/kent Tomb in Church of St MaryGrade II
- Dalton/guest Tomb 45 Metres South of South West Corner of Church of St MaryGrade II
- Deacon Stracy Tomb 5 Metres East of Dundas TombGrade II
- Dundas Tomb 12 Metres South West of Chancel of St Mary's ChurchGrade II
- Fawcett Tomb 2 Metres South of Chancel of Church of St MaryGrade II
- Headstone of George Edward Doney Approx. 50 Metres Ssw of the Tower of the Church of St MaryGrade II
- Morison Tomb 10 Metres North of the Mrs Elizabeth Fuller Free School in the Church of St MaryGrade II
- Shipton/finch Tomb 5 Metres East of Chancel of Church of St MaryGrade II
- Tomb 10 Metres South of Chancel of Church of St MaryGrade II
- Tomb 5 Metres East of Fawcett Tomb in St Mary's ChurchGrade II
The council’s appraisal
WEBSt Mary's Conservation Area AppraisalWatford Borough 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 Watford Borough Council and Historic England via planning.data.gov.uk (OGL). Guidance only — not an official council check.