Planning in Durham

Durham County Council has 92 conservation areas and 0 Article 4 direction areas on the national planning data platform.

Conservation areas
92
Article 4 directions
0
Listed building outlines
–
Planning applications
–
not published yet
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Planium reads the conservation area appraisal, Article 4 directions and local plan policies for Durham and tells you whether your extension, loft conversion or change of use needs planning permission.

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Conservation areas

  • Annfield Plain
  • Aycliffe Villagedesignated 1 January 1981
  • Barnard Castledesignated 1 January 1969
  • Barninghamdesignated 22 April 1984
  • Beamish Burndesignated 1 January 1994
  • Bishop Aucklanddesignated 1 January 1969
  • Bishop Middleham
  • Blackhilldesignated 1 January 1994
  • Bolamdesignated 10 March 2010
  • Bowburndesignated 1 January 1979
  • Bowesdesignated 1 January 1984
  • Brancepethdesignated 4 May 1972
  • Brandondesignated 1 January 1976
  • Brusseltondesignated 1 January 1993
  • Burnhalldesignated 1 January 1981
  • Burnopfielddesignated 1 January 1984
  • Castle Edendesignated 1 January 1976
  • Chester-le-Streetdesignated 1 January 2003
  • Cleatlamdesignated 1 January 1987
  • Cockfielddesignated 1 January 2001
  • Cockton Hill, Bishop Aucklanddesignated 1 January 1993
  • Cornforthdesignated 1 January 1993
  • Cornsaydesignated 1 January 1994
  • Cotherstonedesignated 1 January 1984
  • Cowshilldesignated 1 January 1993
  • Crookdesignated 1 January 1975
  • Durham Citydesignated 9 August 1968
  • Easington Villagedesignated 1 January 1974
  • East Blackdenedesignated 1 January 1993
  • Eastgatedesignated 1 January 1993
  • Ebchesterdesignated 1 January 1972
  • Edmondbyers
  • Egglestondesignated 1 January 1987
  • Eshdesignated 1 January 1975
  • Frosterleydesignated 1 January 1993
  • Gainforddesignated 5 May 1971
  • Greta Bridgedesignated 1 January 1987
  • Hardwick Parkdesignated 1 January 1993
  • Hawthorndesignated 1 January 1974
  • Headlamdesignated 1 January 1984
  • Hettdesignated 1 January 1977
  • Hiltondesignated 1 January 1984
  • Holywelldesignated 1 January 1981
  • Hunstanworthdesignated 1 January 1993
  • Hunwickdesignated 1 January 1990
  • Ingletondesignated 1 January 1987
  • Ireshopeburn, Newhouse and West Blackdene
  • Ivestondesignated 1 January 1975
  • Kirk Merringtondesignated 1 January 1993
  • Lanchesterdesignated 3 May 1972
  • Langtondesignated 1 January 1987
  • Lartington
  • Little Newshamdesignated 1 January 1987
  • Low Westwooddesignated 1 January 1994
  • Mainsforthdesignated 1 January 1993
  • Medomsleydesignated 1 January 1975
  • Mickleton
  • Middleton-in-Teesdaledesignated 1 January 1973
  • Middridgedesignated 1 January 1993
  • Mordondesignated 1 January 1993
  • Muggleswick
  • Newbiggindesignated 1 January 1987
  • Old Cassopdesignated 1 January 1981
  • Pittington Hallgarthdesignated 1 January 1981
  • Plawsworthdesignated 1 January 2000
  • Romaldkirkdesignated 1 January 1984
  • Satleydesignated 1 January 1975
  • Seahamdesignated 1 January 1997
  • Sedgefielddesignated 5 May 1971
  • Shadforthdesignated 1 January 1976
  • Sherburndesignated 1 January 1979
  • Sherburn Housedesignated 1 January 1981
  • Shildondesignated 1 January 1993
  • Shincliffedesignated 1 January 1976
  • Shotley Bridgedesignated 1 January 1975
  • St John's Chapeldesignated 1 January 1993
  • Staindrop
  • Stanhopedesignated 1 January 1972
  • Sunderland Bridgedesignated 1 January 1976
  • Tanfielddesignated 1 January 1975
  • Thornleydesignated 1 January 1993
  • Trimdon Village
  • Tudhoedesignated 1 January 1993
  • Wackerfielddesignated 1 January 1984
  • Wearheaddesignated 1 January 1993
  • West Aucklanddesignated 1 January 1975
  • Westgatedesignated 1 January 1993
  • Whitworthdesignated 1 January 1993
  • Whorltondesignated 1 January 1972
  • Windlestonedesignated 1 January 1993
  • Witton-le-Weardesignated 1 January 1972
  • Wolsinghamdesignated 1 January 1975

Article 4 directions

No Article 4 directions published on the platform yet.

Frequently asked questions

Is my property in a conservation area in Durham?
Durham County Council has designated 92 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. Durham has 0 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.

Durham County 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