Conservation areas

The locations and boundaries of the 36 designated conservation areas can be found in our Technical Paper:

• Conservation Areas Technical Paper [PDF - 2MB]

Planning constraints

The usual planning controls apply in conservation areas but planning permission is also needed for other changes including (but not limited to):

• making changes to the exterior of houses such as windows and doors, stone cleaning, rendering, painting and cladding
• building small extensions or driveways
• carrying out other works to the roof, including adding roof windows, a TV aerial, satellite dish, solar panels or wind turbines
• demolishing any part of a building or wall

If you want to carry out any work to a tree in a conservation area  then you must apply for permission at least 6 weeks before starting any work.

Read an outline of how we manage development in conservation areas:

• Download guidance on development in conservation areas [PDF - 474KB]

You should always check if your proposal needs permission before starting any work.

Further information

There are character appraisals for some conservation areas which have been written and published as supplementary guidance for the policies of  Local Development Plan .

Each appraisal describes the conservation area, the history of its development and how to keep its special character. The appraisals are used to help make decisions about new proposals and improvements in each conservation area.

• Historic Built Environment [PDF - 5MB]
• Annan Conservation Area Character Appraisal [PDF - 8MB]
• Crichton Conservation Area Character Appraisal [PDF - 8MB]
• Dumfries Conservation Area Character Appraisal and Management Plan [PDF - 21MB]
• Gatehouse of Fleet Conservation Area Character Appraisal [PDF - 2MB]
• Kirkcudbright Conservation Area Character Appraisal [PDF - 2MB]
• Moffat Conservation Area Character Appraisal and Management Plan [PDF - 9MB]
• Stranraer Conservation Area Character Appraisal and Management Plan [PDF - 12MB]
• Whithorn Conservation Area Character Appraisal [PDF - 3MB]
• Windows and Doors in Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas [PDF - 2MB]

Further appraisals will be prepared during the life of the Local Development Plan.