Planning in Exeter
Exeter City Council has 20 conservation areas and 16 Article 4 direction areas on the national planning data platform.
Conservation areas
20
Article 4 directions
16
Listed building outlines
–
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 Exeter and tells you whether your extension, loft conversion or change of use needs planning permission.
Conservation areas
- Alphin Brookdesignated 10 February 2009
- Alphingtondesignated 20 September 2005
- Belmontdesignated 19 June 2007
- Centraldesignated 8 June 1992
- Cowick Streetdesignated 22 November 2004
- Exwickdesignated 20 June 2006
- Heavitreedesignated 7 April 2009
- Longbrookdesignated 16 March 2004
- Lower Summerlandsdesignated 18 March 2008
- Midway Terrace and Ide Lanedesignated 20 September 2005
- Mont Le Granddesignated 7 April 2009
- Pennsylvaniadesignated 23 January 2007
- Princes Squaredesignated 4 July 2007
- Riversidedesignated 22 September 2005
- Southernhay and The Friarsdesignated 22 March 1993
- St Leonardsdesignated 8 May 1978
- St Sidwellsdesignated 19 June 2007
- St. David'sdesignated 16 March 2004
- Taddyfordedesignated 20 November 2007
- Topshamdesignated 2 March 1989
Article 4 directions
- 2023 Article 4 Direction23 December 2024
- 60-66 Union Road30 August 2011
- Article 4 Direction HMO31 October 2011
- Land Adjacent to St Davids Station, Bonhay Road1 November 2006
- Land at Duryard15 March 1981
- Land at Junction of Belmont Road and Western Way1 November 2006
- Land at Sidwell Street1 November 2006
- Land at the Exebridge Centre Car Park1 November 2006
- Land at the Junction of Leypark Road and Hill Barton Road1 November 2006
- Land at the Junction of Prince Charles Road and Stoke Hill1 November 2006
- Land at the Strand, Topsham23 April 1958
- Land North of Exwick Lane16 October 2007
- Midway Terrace and Ide Lane, Alphington20 March 2006
- Riverside Pastures, Stoke Road15 December 2004
- St Leonard's Church Hall15 February 2018
- The Crawford Hotel6 November 2012
Frequently asked questions
Is my property in a conservation area in Exeter?
Exeter City Council has designated 20 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. Exeter has 16 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.
Exeter City 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