On this page:
General guidelines regarding conservation status
In any Conservation Area, special consideration is given to planning applications, and permission has to be obtained if you are planning:
- demolition to a building with a volume of more than 115 cubic metres (there are some exceptions – check with the planning department)
- demolition to a gate, fence, wall or railing over two metres high OR over one metre high if it’s next to a public open space or a highway (including a public footpath).
- add to or alter the roof of a house
- apply cladding to external walls
- install satellite dishes
Additional requirements for specific properties covered by the Article 4(2) direction
Most older houses (pre 1970s?) in the Oakmount Triangle are also covered by the Article 4 (2) , which means that permission needs to be sought for what may be considered quite minor works, and would otherwise be permitted development, ie not require planning permission ). This applies to various changes which front or face a highway, or in the case of chimneys, on any roof slope.
This not only means the front of the house, its front garden and walls but also includes the street facing side on corner plots. Note that in our case this can also include elements visible from Lovers’ Walk footpath on the common boundary.
See here – Is your house covered by Article 4(2)?
Conservation contacts
- Conservation questions (heritage materials etc)
- General planning (extensions etc. pre-planning advice)
- OTRA advice Email Contact Form here
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Guide to when you may need to apply for planning permission for works due to conservation status and/or under Article 4
Please note that this information is intended to provide guidance. While we have made our best endeavours to make this as accurate and up to date as possible, conforming with these guidance points should not be interpreted as meaning that planning permission will definitely be either required or not required. Please always seek advice before starting work.
Important: Permitted Development Regulations always apply
Note that where planning permission is shown as not required this means that it is not required under the Article 4(2) directive. Any (conditional) national planning regulations still apply, and so we advise you should always check with Planning Portal Common Projects.
For example, EV chargers are not excluded from permitted development by the Article 4, and so are classed as permitted development only providing they fit certain criteria., ie are less than 0.2 cubic metres in size, face onto or are closer than two meters from a highway . Otherwise planning permissions is required irrespective of conservation area.
| Planning permission | ✔︎=Yes ✖︎=No ?=maybe |
|---|---|
| Maintenance & Decoration | |
| Maintenance without changes to materials/appearance - like-for-like* | ✖︎ |
| Changing wall facing material (e.g. removing or adding rendering, pebbledash, hanging tiles) | ✔︎ |
| Repainting doors or windows, other joinery & walls already painted. | ✖︎ |
| Painting of unpainted walls fronting road | ✔︎ |
| Replacement windows and doors fronting road | ✔︎ |
| Replacement of gutters/rainwater goods | ✔︎ |
| Repointing (like for like style and mortar) ➤ Appropriate mortar should be used for structural as well as for aesthetic reasons. See here | ✖︎ |
| Paths, drives & hard-standing | |
| Installation or extension of hard-standing for vehicles. | ✔︎ |
| Provision of new front path or driveway. | ✔︎ |
| Paving-over/hard-surfacing in front garden There are rules in regard to drainage. Download guidelines here | ✔︎ |
| Changing paving material, e.g. brick paving | ? |
| Paving/paths in back garden | ✖︎ |
| Gardens, shrubs & trees | |
| Planting of trees or shrubs ➤ Check with Building Control regarding proximity to houses. | ✖︎ |
| Removing/lopping of trees* | ✔︎ |
| Pruning or removal of shrubs | ✖︎ |
| Changing garden layout without adding paved area of front garden | ✖︎ |
| Erection/alteration/removal of sheds or conservatories in rear garden. ➤ Depends on the size and is especially pertinent when neighbours' view or sunlight is affected. | ? |
| Front garden walls, fences,gates & gateposts | |
| Maintenance without changes to materials/appearance - like-for-like* ➤ See above (pointing) | ✖︎ |
| Removal, alteration or replacement | ✔︎ |
| Installation/erection of new | ✔︎ |
| Garages | |
| Maintenance without changes to materials/appearance - like-for-like* ➤ Including painting doors a different colour | ✖︎ |
| Replacement door/s | ✔︎ |
| Erection/alteration/demolition | ✔︎ |
| Roofs & chimneys | |
| Re-roofing/alterations to roof and eaves. | ✔︎ |
| Installation of roof lights | ✔︎ |
| Addition, alteration or removal of chimney | ✔︎ |
| Installation of solar panels and/or photovoltaic cells See here | ? |
| Front porches & verandahs | |
| Erection/alteration/removal | ✔︎ |
| Glazing to enclose | ✔︎ |
| Satellite dishes & EV charging | |
| Installation/alteration/replacement of satellite dishes | ? |
| Electric vehicle charging points See here | ? |
| ✔︎ | |
| See here | ✖︎ |
| Air Source heat pump on back x 2 | ✔︎ |
Like for Like?
* In most cases appropriate like for like materials are still available. All good builders will be able to source either new or reclaimed (imperial size) bricks, tiles etc. When roofs need maintenance, roofers are usually able to carefully remove and replace most of the original tiles. Where a percentage of new tiles need to be used it is advisable to mix them in randomly or use at the back of the house, in order to avoid odd looking new patches.
Lime mortar is advised to retain the character. It is also advised for structural reasons as modern hard cement mixes can cause issues in combination with older bricks. See here.
Sources for materials
More recommendations gratefully received…
If in any doubt about like for like materials please contact us or SCC planning or conservation department.
Trees & Shrubs
All trees in a conservation area have protection similar to a Tree Preservation Order and it is an offence to fell or prune any tree with a trunk diameter greater than 75 mm at 1.5 m above the ground without giving prior notification to the Council. Presumably shrubs with greater diameter trunks are exempt from this (to be confirmed!)
Disclaimer:
This is purely for unofficial guidance. None of what we can tell you can be taken in any way as permission or authority to carry out works. OTRA cannot be held liable for any work you may carry out based solely on the information on this page. If in any doubt at all you can contact us for informal but non-legally binding advice, but for official advice and permisson contact Southampton City Council. This is an introductory guide and is not a definitive source of legal information.
This can not be assumed to be a comprehensive list or entirely up-to-date and currently accurate. More detailed information about the features which give the triangle its character can be see in the Character Appraisal & Management Plan
