Planning permission in Ipswich

Most single-storey rear extensions within the national permitted development limits don't need planning permission in Ipswich. The rules are stricter in its 15 conservation areas, where side extensions, two-storey extensions and loft dormers need permission. 4 of its Article 4 areas remove some or all house extension rights. Check your address to see which rules apply.

Ipswich at a glance

Conservation areas: 15
Article 4 areas: 7
Protected landscapes: Suffolk Coast & Heaths
Planning decisions: Ipswich Borough Council

How many conservation areas are there in Ipswich?

Ipswich has 15 conservation areas. In a conservation area, permitted development rights are reduced: side extensions, two-storey extensions, loft dormers and cladding all need planning permission, and many councils add Article 4 directions on top.

Barrack Corner Conservation Area
Burlington Road Conservation Area
Cemetery Conservation Area
Central Conservation Area
Chantry Park Conservation Area
Christchurch Street Conservation Area
Henley Road Conservation Area
Holywells Park Conservation Area
Marlborough Road Conservation Area
Norwich Road / Anglesea Road Conservation Area
Park Conservation Area
St Helen's Conservation Area
Stoke Conservation Area
Wet Dock Conservation Area
Whitton Conservation Area

Read more: extensions, loft dormers, garden rooms and solar panels in a conservation area.

Does Ipswich have Article 4 directions?

Ipswich has published 7 Article 4 areas. Inside them, some permitted development rights are removed, so work that would normally be allowed needs planning permission.

The rights they remove most often:

Painting the outside of a building (Part 2 Class C, in 5 of the areas)
House extensions (Part 1 Class A, in 4 of the areas)
Other roof alterations, such as rooflights (Part 1 Class C, in 4 of the areas)
Porches (Part 1 Class D, in 4 of the areas)
Garden buildings and outbuildings (Part 1 Class E, in 4 of the areas)
Hard surfaces, such as paved driveways (Part 1 Class F, in 4 of the areas)
Satellite dishes and antennas (Part 1 Class H, in 4 of the areas)
Chimneys, flues and soil pipes (Part 1 Class G, in 4 of the areas)
Walls, fences and gates (Part 2 Class A, in 4 of the areas)
Demolishing walls, fences and gates (Part 11 Class C, in 2 of the areas)

Directions listed by Ipswich:

Anglesea Road/Norwich Road Conservation Area Article 4 Direction
Article 4 Direction for Small HMOs
Central Conservation Area Article 4 Direction (1-51 Bolton Lane)
Christchurch Street/Westerfield Road Conservation Area Article 4 Direction
Marlborough Road Conservation Area Article 4 Direction
The Walk/Thoroughfare Article 4 Direction
The Walk Article 4 Direction

What is an Article 4 direction?

Is any of Ipswich in a national park, National Landscape or green belt?

National Landscape (Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty) in or bordering Ipswich: Suffolk Coast & Heaths.

National parks and National Landscapes restrict permitted development in similar ways to conservation areas. Read more: extensions, loft dormers and garden rooms.

Listed buildings and protected trees in Ipswich

Listed buildings everywhere in England are recorded by Historic England, and the checker looks for them at every address. Ipswich also publishes 627 listed building outlines, which show exactly which building is listed.

Ipswich doesn't publish its tree preservation orders as data. If there are mature trees near your project, ask the council whether any are protected before you start.

What planning data does Ipswich publish?

Planning data published by Ipswich Borough Council
Data	Status	Records
Conservation area boundaries	Published	15
Article 4 direction boundaries	Published	7
Listed building outlines	Published	627
Tree preservation order areas	Not published	0
Protected trees	Not published	0

Planning work on a home in Ipswich? Put a pin on your house and we'll check it against all of this.

Start a check

Other councils in East of England

Data from planning.data.gov.uk, published by Ipswich Borough Council and national bodies under the Open Government Licence, last updated here on 31 October 2026. Ipswich Borough Council website.