Heritage, Conservation & Legal
Listed buildings, conservation areas, party walls and appeals
Browse our free UK planning guides on heritage, conservation & legal below. Written in plain English for homeowners, self-builders, developers and planning professionals.
Compulsory Purchase Orders: When Councils Can Take Your Property
Compulsory Purchase Orders allow councils to buy property without the owner's consent. Here's how CPOs work and what rights you have.
3 min readWhat Is Listed Building Consent?
An explanation of listed building consent - when you need it, how the listing grades work, and what the application process involves.
4 min readPlanning Permission in a Conservation Area
How living in a conservation area affects your planning rights, what extra restrictions apply, and how to navigate the planning process.
4 min readParty Wall Agreements Explained
What the Party Wall Act covers, when you need a party wall agreement, how the process works, and what it costs.
4 min readHow to Object to a Planning Application
Learn how to write an effective planning objection. Covers material planning considerations, the 21-day window, what counts as valid grounds, and how to submit your response.
10 min readHow to Appeal a Planning Decision
A guide to the planning appeal process in England, including when you can appeal, the different types of appeal, and how to prepare.
5 min readListed Building Grades Explained: Grade I, II* and II
What the three grades of listed building mean in England, how they affect what you can do with the property, and how to find out if your building is listed.
5 min readTree Preservation Orders (TPOs): What Homeowners Need to Know
What Tree Preservation Orders are, how to check if trees on your property are protected, and what you can and cannot do without council permission.
5 min readOverlooking and Loss of Privacy: Your Rights When a Neighbour Builds
What are your rights if a neighbour's extension or development overlooks your home or garden? How overlooking is assessed in planning decisions.
4 min readBoundary Disputes and Planning Permission: What You Need to Know
How boundary issues interact with the planning system - what planning can and cannot resolve, and how to handle boundary disputes when building.
4 min readRight to Light: Can a Neighbour's Extension Block Your Light?
What is the right to light and how does it affect planning permission? How to protect your daylight when a neighbour wants to build.
4 min readBreach of Planning Conditions: What Happens Next
What happens when planning conditions are not complied with - enforcement powers, penalties, and how to discharge conditions properly.
4 min readCan My Neighbour Build Up to My Boundary?
Your rights when a neighbour builds an extension or structure on or near your property boundary, including permitted development rules, party wall obligations, and what you can do.
3 min read