About the The Retreat Conservation Area
The The Retreat Conservation Area covers about 21 hectares and was designated by City of York Council in 1975. Inside the boundary are 8 listed buildings (1 Grade II*, 7 Grade II). The most significant is The Retreat and boundary walls, 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.
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.
- HMOChange of use
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.
- The Retreat and boundary wallsGrade II*
- 103, Heslington RoadGrade II
- 2 AND 3, BELLE VUE TERRACE (See details for further address information)Grade II
- Garrow HillGrade II
- Lamel Beeches (former Medical Superintendent's house for The Retreat)Grade II
- Stables and coach house with attached mortuary, in the grounds of The RetreatGrade II
- Summerhouse Approximately 50 Metres West of Number 107 the Retreat HospitalGrade II
- The RiseGrade II
The council’s appraisal
WEBThe Retreat Conservation Area AppraisalCity of York 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 City of York Council and Historic England via planning.data.gov.uk (OGL). Guidance only — not an official council check.