About the Thurstaston Conservation Area
The Thurstaston Conservation Area covers about 23 hectares and was designated by Wirral Borough Council in 1981. Inside the boundary are 12 listed buildings (2 Grade II*, 10 Grade II). The most significant is Church of St Bartholomew, Grade II*. 2 Article 4 directions over the area remove further householder rights, on top of the conservation area limits below. 4 Tree Preservation Order records overlap the area; every other tree here still needs six weeks’ notice before work.
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.
Article 4 directions here
These overlap the conservation area. Householder directions remove more of the rights above; change-of-use ones don’t affect extending a house.
- Caldy/Thurstaston. Article 4 Direction 1985Householder works
- Heswall & Thurstaston. Article 4 Direction 1965Householder works
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 BartholomewGrade II*
- Thurstaston HallGrade II*
- Former barn and granary to Dawpool FarmGrade II
- Former cattle sheds incorporating smithy and implement shed at Dawpool FarmGrade II
- Gatepiers to North of Thurstaston HallGrade II
- Old School HouseGrade II
- South Lodge With Attached Gates and Gate PiersGrade II
- Sundial Approximately 40 Metres to South of St Bartholomews ChurchGrade II
- The Clock TowerGrade II
- The Old FarmGrade II
- Thurstaston War MemorialGrade II
- Tower of Former Church of St Bartholomew Approximately 30 Metres to South West of Present ChurchGrade II
The council’s appraisal
WEBThurstaston Conservation Area AppraisalWirral 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 Wirral Borough Council and Historic England via planning.data.gov.uk (OGL). Guidance only — not an official council check.