What makes the Green different
The conservation area is small, covering about 9 hectares, but it holds eight listed buildings, from the Grade I Church of St Cuthbert to the Grade II* vicarage and a group of Grade II houses on Church Road, Chapel Road and the Green itself. Front walls, hedges, railings and gardens all contribute to its character, and the council looks at how a change affects the street as a whole.
Check Article 4 first
In parts of Stockton-on-Tees' conservation areas, Article 4 Directions remove the usual permitted development rights for:
- hard surfaces at the front of a house;
- putting up or changing gates, walls and fences;
- demolishing gates, walls and fences.
The council's Article 4 Directions page lists the areas covered. If your house is affected, a new front drive needs planning permission even if the surface is permeable.
Designing for the Green
- Smallest workable opening. Keep the front wall or railings and make one opening just wide enough for a car.
- Traditional materials. Bound or loose gravel with granite setts, or clay pavers in warm tones, sit better than grey concrete blocks.
- Keep some planting. A frontage that is part garden, part parking reads as a garden, not a car park.
- Listed neighbours. If your property is listed, or next to a listed building, expect closer scrutiny and possibly listed building consent.
Trees
Trees in a conservation area are protected: you must give the council six weeks' notice before most work on them. A drive design that keeps roots clear, such as a no-dig cellular base, can avoid problems.
The crossing
A new opening still needs a dropped kerb from Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, applied for by the owner. Planning permission and the crossing are separate approvals, and you need both. See dropped kerbs.
Common questions
Am I in the conservation area?
Check the conservation area map on the council's website, or ask its planning team. The boundary is drawn tightly around the historic core.
Can I replace an existing drive?
Like-for-like replacement is often viewed differently from a new hard surface, but check first if Article 4 applies.
Which surface is most likely to be approved?
Gravel with setts, or clay pavers, with the front boundary kept, tend to fit best.
Do I need consent for a gate?
Possibly, if an Article 4 Direction covers gates, walls and fences at your address.