Conservation area guidance design guidance - do's and dont's

Garages, extensions, satellite dishes, drainpipes, guttering, rainwater goods, meter boxes

timber doors are normally most appropriate
carefully consider roof design and use of materials as they are key to ensuring the successful integration of a garage to the parent building

aluminium, plastic or panelled doors are not likely to be acceptable
make garages overscaled. They should not dominate the parent building or the streetscene and in most cases should be set back from the front building line. Double width garages are unlikely to be acceptable
forget to obtain the necessary planning permission before constructing a new garage

retain key features and proportions where they are an integral part of character
draw references from the parent building to inform the design
use complimentary materials

let extensions dominate the existing building or devalue its historic character with poor proportions, materials and detailing
begin work on a new extension without obtaining the necessary planning permission

ensure that the sighting of the satellite dish does not interfere with the character or architectural features of the building; Possible suitable locations for satellite dishes in conservation areas could include: rear gardens; walls not facing the street; roofs of rear extensions; within roof valleys; where the antennae is shielded from public view by roof parapets etc
consider options for reducing the impact of satellite dishes such as: blending the colour with the background; not siting them where visible against the sky; installing communal dishes for flatted blocks

forget to check whether planning permission is required before installing a new satellite dish, in conservation areas they are not permitted on elevations that front the highway, or on chimneys

for the majority of buildings half-round gutters are likely to be appropriate, although this will be dependent on the age of the building
uniform colours, normally black, should be used for gutters, pipes and other decorative features
consider including some form of water recycling although this should not interfere with existing architectural features
consider siting your meter box where it has the least public impact such on the side elevation (except where this faces the street), in semi-concealed ground boxes screened by landscaping or internally. (note. This will need to be agreed with your provider who should be informed that the property is in a conservation area)

install external plumbing on public elevations, if unavoidable it should normally be in metal, preferably cast iron, and painted black
locate meter boxes on the front wall where they can be seen from the street