Changes to four Stoke-on-Trent conservation areas

New rules to help protect and safeguard features of special architectural or historic interest within designated conservation areas in the city will come into force next month.

From Monday 2 December, Article 4 Directions will be applied to four individual areas in Stoke-on-Trent, meaning residents living within the boundaries of the affected conservation areas will have to ask for special permission before carrying out certain improvements or extensions to their homes.

The regulations will come into force as part of the council’s review of its conservation areas earlier this year. They will apply to:

• The Albert Square Conservation Area (Fenton)
• The Caldon Canal Conservation Area
• The Penkhull Village Conservation Area
• The Trent and Mersey Canal Conservation Area

Councillor Chris Robinson, cabinet member for housing and planning, said: “This is the final step in a major project to review all of the conservation areas and associated Article 4 Directions in the city.

“It will help to preserve and re-purpose treasured physical assets and safeguard them for future generations, ensuring our city is a greener and cleaner place for all.”

Article 3 of the Town and Country Planning (General and Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 grants automatic planning permissions to certain types of developments. An Article 4 Direction removes these permitted development rights.

As part of the review, the Article 4 Directions for the Winton Square Conservation Area have been removed. This is because all of the important key buildings based within the area are already protected by listed building status.

A full list of the Article 4 Directions in the city can be found by visiting: Article 4 Documents | Article 4 Documents | Stoke-on-Trent