Planning in Somerset

Somerset Council has 178 conservation areas and 0 Article 4 direction areas on the national planning data platform.

Conservation areas
178
Article 4 directions
0
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 Somerset and tells you whether your extension, loft conversion or change of use needs planning permission.

Ask AI about a site

Conservation areas

Article 4 directions

No Article 4 directions published on the platform yet.

Frequently asked questions

Is my property in a conservation area in Somerset?
Somerset Council has designated 178 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. Somerset 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.

Somerset 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