Planning in Central Bedfordshire

Central Bedfordshire Council has 61 conservation areas and 7 Article 4 direction areas on the national planning data platform, plus 1,918 listed building outlines.

Conservation areas
61
Article 4 directions
7
Listed building outlines
1,918
Planning applications
–
not published yet
Check what you can build — with AI

Planium reads the conservation area appraisal, Article 4 directions and local plan policies for Central Bedfordshire and tells you whether your extension, loft conversion or change of use needs planning permission.

Ask AI about a site

Conservation areas

  • Ampthill Conservation Area
  • Aspley Guise Conservation Area
  • Aspley Heath Conservation Area
  • Astwick Conservation Area
  • Barton Conservation Area
  • Biggleswade Conservation Area
  • Billington Conservation Area
  • Blunham Conservation Area
  • Caddington Conservation Area
  • Church End, Hockliffe Conservation Area
  • Clifton Conservation Area
  • Clophill Conservation Area
  • Dunstable Conservation Area
  • Eaton Bray Conservation Area
  • Eggington Conservation Area
  • Eversholt (Church End) Conservation Area
  • Flitton Conservation Area
  • Harlington Conservation Area
  • Haynes (Church End) Conservation Area
  • Heath & Reach Conservation Area
  • Henlow Conservation Area
  • Houghton Regis Conservation Area
  • Husborne Crawley Conservation Area
  • Husborne Crawley Conservation Area
  • Ickwell Conservation Area
  • Kensworth Church End Conservation Area
  • Kensworth Lynch Conservation Area
  • Leighton Conservation Area
  • Linslade Conservation Area
  • Luton Hoo Conservation Area
  • Maulden Conservation Area
  • Meppershall Conservation Area
  • Millbrook Conservation Area
  • Milton Bryan Conservation Area
  • Northill Conservation Area
  • Old Warden and Old Warden Park Conservation Area
  • Potton Conservation Area
  • Pulloxhill Conservation Area
  • Ridgmont Conservation Area
  • Sandy Conservation Area
  • Sewell Conservation Area
  • Shefford Conservation Area
  • Shillington (Aspley End) Conservation Area
  • Shillington Conservation Area
  • Silsoe Conservation Area
  • Southcott Village Conservation Area
  • Southill Conservation Area
  • Steppingley Conservation Area
  • Streatley Conservation Area
  • Studham Conservation Area
  • Sutton Conservation Area
  • Tebworth Conservation Area
  • Tempsford (Church End) Conservation Area
  • Tempsford (Langford End) Conservation Area
  • Tingrith Conservation Area
  • Toddington Conservation Area
  • Totternhoe Conservation Area
  • Whipsnade Conservation Area
  • Woburn Conservation Area
  • Wrest Park Conservation Area
  • Wrestlingworth Conservation Area

Article 4 directions

  • Article 4 Direction1 August 2011
  • Article 4 Direction9 October 1981
  • Fairfield Parish14 September 2020
  • Land at Lower Sundon3 May 1976
  • Land south west of Westfield Farm, Hitchin Road, Henlow Camp, Bedfordshire9 August 2004
  • Land to the north, south and east of the Sandhouse Public House, Watling Street, Heath and Reach26 August 1982
  • Toddington Article 4 Direction14 November 1975

Frequently asked questions

Is my property in a conservation area in Central Bedfordshire?
Central Bedfordshire Council has designated 61 conservation areas, listed on this page with their designation dates and appraisal documents where the council publishes them. In a conservation area, permitted development rights are narrower: cladding, some extensions, roof alterations and satellite dishes on the front elevation may need planning permission, and demolition of most buildings needs consent.
What is an Article 4 direction?
An Article 4 direction removes specific permitted development rights in a defined area, so work that would normally not need planning permission — for example replacing windows, changing a house into a small HMO or altering front boundaries — does need an application. Central Bedfordshire has 7 Article 4 direction areas recorded on planning.data.gov.uk.
How do I check what I am allowed to build?
Start with the designations on the site (conservation area, Article 4, listed building), then the local plan policies and any design codes. Planium can read the council’s appraisal and policy documents and summarise what applies to your project, including whether permitted development is available.

Central Bedfordshire Council website · All local planning authorities

Source: planning.data.gov.uk (Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Open Government Licence v3.0) · Retrieved 2026-10-09