Bought our house in 1985 and the area became a conservation area in 2007-ish. I have just read the draft appraisal again [which I don't recall ever having sight of prior to the area being designated].
There is no mention of our property, it isn't Victorian, like the rest of the area. It's on the very edge of the delineation. Our property is of no architectural or special significance.
We didn't require planning permission to replace our windows - which we did replace as pvc sash windows, to be in general keeping with the area; although we did have to apply for permission to fell a tree which was protected, but was dead and dropping chunks of bark on to a public highway, so we were permitted to take it down.
Now that we are years down the line and in a position to consider an extension or solar panels, or to convert our double garage into a bedsit for our kids, we are coming up against the fact that we are in a conservation area so can't do any development. I asked about solar panels, as our house faces south, but was told we could only put panels on the rear, north facing roof so as not to detract from the public facing look of the house. We have a brick wall and trees across the front, so what you can see from the road is minimal and there isn't a pretty Victorian house to look at anyway.
Does anyone know if we can ask to be withdrawn from the conservation area for the above reasons? Or are we trapped with no alternative but to move house?