Birmingham is enormous. Second city, yes, but also a city of villages - Moseley, Kings Heath, Harborne, Sutton Coldfield - each with its own housing stock and its own relationship with the planning system. Bournville alone has conservation controls shaped by over a century of the Cadbury Trust's stewardship. The Jewellery Quarter has Article 4 directions that restrict almost everything. And then there are suburbs where permitted development applies in full and you can build without a second thought.
With 29 conservation areas and Article 4 directions in the most sensitive ones, your specific location within Birmingham determines what you can and can't do under PD. This page covers the local picture.
If your house is in Bournville, the Jewellery Quarter, Moseley, or any of Birmingham's other 29 conservation areas, the rules change. A rear dormer that would be straightforward in Erdington needs a planning application in Edgbaston. A side extension that's permitted development in Selly Oak isn't in Kings Heath. The national PD restrictions on designated land remove roof extensions and side extensions from permitted development entirely. Single storey rear extensions within the standard depth limits (3m for terraces and semis, 4m for detached) remain PD, even in conservation areas.
Conservation areas include Bournville Village, Jewellery Quarter, Colmore Row, Edgbaston, Moseley, Kings Norton, Harborne Old Village, High Street Sutton Coldfield, and Moor Pool. Check whether your property is in a conservation area at birmingham.gov.uk. For a full explanation, see our conservation area guide.
Birmingham has Article 4(2) directions in nine conservation areas: Austin Village, Bournville Village, Edgbaston, Greenfield Road Harborne, High Street Sutton Coldfield, Moor Pool Harborne, Moseley, Old Yardley, and St Agnes Moseley. In these areas, certain external alterations that would normally be permitted development - such as changing windows, doors, or roofing materials - require planning permission.
The Jewellery Quarter has separate Article 4 directions focused on commercial-to-residential conversions, reflecting its unique mixed-use character. For a general explanation of how Article 4 directions work, see our Article 4 guide.
Our free eligibility check identifies whether your property is in a conservation area or other designated area - the first thing to establish before planning any work.
Birmingham's housing stock outside the conservation areas is predominantly interwar and post-war semis and terraces - Erdington, Selly Oak, Northfield, Acocks Green. These are the houses where PD works hardest: a 3-metre rear extension on a semi to open up the kitchen, or a rear dormer to add a bedroom and en-suite. The plots are typically wide enough that the 2-metre boundary rule for eaves height doesn't constrain most designs. If you're outside a conservation area, the national rules apply in full.
For the full national rules, see our guides on extensions, loft conversions, and outbuildings.
Check your property's constraints at birmingham.gov.uk. Submit planning applications through the Planning Portal. The current householder application fee is £548. Birmingham offers pre-application advice - check their planning pages for current fees.
Birmingham-specific
Bournville is unique in England. The Bournville Village Trust operates its own design controls on top of the council's conservation area and Article 4 restrictions. If your property is on the Trust's estate, you need their approval as well as any planning consent. Check with the Trust before committing to a design.
If you're in one of the nine Article 4 conservation areas, even replacing a window can require planning permission. Check your specific area's restrictions on the council website before ordering any materials.
A Lawful Development Certificate (£274) is worth the investment in Birmingham, particularly if your property is near a conservation area boundary - the boundaries aren't always obvious from the street.
PD Assessment Tool
Birmingham has 29 conservation areas and nine with Article 4 directions. The free eligibility check identifies which restrictions apply to your specific property - the first thing to establish before committing to a design. If your property qualifies for PD, the full assessment checks every condition for your project type.
Free eligibility check. Full assessment £47.
Conservation area count verified against Birmingham City Council's published records. National PD rules verified against the GPDO 2015 (as amended). Fees confirmed as of 1 April 2026. This page is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Local planning policies and Article 4 directions can change - always check the council's website for the most current information.
April 2026