Brighton's character is its currency. The Regency terraces and crescents that define the seafront. The narrow lanes of the Old Town. The pastel-painted Victorian streets climbing the hill toward the station. It's a city where how buildings look matters to everyone - residents, visitors, and the council. With 34 conservation areas and Article 4 directions in many of them, Brighton takes a more protective approach to external alterations than most cities its size.
The national PD rules apply in Brighton and Hove the same as anywhere in England - but the density of conservation areas means your property is more likely than average to be in one. Check first.
In Brighton, there's roughly a one-in-five chance your property is in a conservation area - 18% of the urban area is designated, significantly higher than the national average. If it is, your rear dormer needs a planning application rather than being automatic. Your side extension isn't PD. The Regency terraces along the seafront, the Victorian streets climbing toward the station, the village centres at Rottingdean and Patcham - 34 conservation areas cover the places where Brighton's architectural consistency is most valued. Single storey rear extensions within the standard depth limits remain PD, even in these areas.
Conservation areas include The Regency Square area, Brunswick Town, Kemp Town, Old Town, Clifton Hill, Montpelier, Round Hill, Preston Park, North Laine, West Hill, and the Hove seafront areas. Check your property at brighton-hove.gov.uk.
Brighton's conservation area controls are specifically focused on maintaining the uniformity of the Regency and Victorian terraces and crescents. Article 4 directions in the most sensitive areas restrict changes to windows, doors, front boundaries, and even the colour of paint on facades. This is a different kind of control to most cities - it's about maintaining consistency across a whole streetscape rather than protecting individual buildings.
The council also controls estate agent boards in certain city centre conservation areas - a detail that signals how seriously they take visual consistency. Check whether Article 4 directions apply at brighton-hove.gov.uk.
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.
Brighton's terraced streets - Round Hill, Hanover, Elm Grove, parts of Hove - are classic extension and loft conversion territory. Narrow plots, deep gardens, pitched roofs with usable space. The most common PD project is a single storey rear extension to open up the kitchen, followed by a rear dormer for an additional bedroom. Outside conservation areas, both are straightforward under the national rules.
Within conservation areas, rear extensions are often still PD but loft conversions involving a dormer will need an application. Brighton's conservation officers are experienced with well-designed dormers and approval rates are reasonable - but the design quality expected is higher than average.
For the full national rules, see our guides on extensions, loft conversions, and outbuildings.
Check your property at brighton-hove.gov.uk. Submit planning applications through the Planning Portal. The current householder fee is £548.
Brighton-specific
The Regency terraces have specific requirements around window design, paint colour, and ironwork. If your property is in one of the seafront or central conservation areas, even replacing a front door may need planning permission under an Article 4 direction.
Brighton's South Downs National Park boundary runs close to some northern suburbs. Properties within the National Park have significantly tighter PD restrictions than those in standard conservation areas. Check your property against both the conservation area map and the National Park boundary.
PD Assessment Tool
Brighton's 34 conservation areas cover 18% of the city. The free eligibility check identifies whether your property is in one - and whether Article 4 directions apply on top. If your property qualifies for PD, the full assessment checks every condition.
Free eligibility check. Full assessment £47.
Conservation area count verified against Brighton and Hove 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