My understanding is that a conservation area means that you are supposed to get planning permission for any changes to your property which are visible from the road and that you need permission to fell or prune any tree over 1.2m tall AND 100mm diameter. Also, TV aerials and satellite dishes can be erected to the rear of your property, but not at the front; my neighbour was made to take his satelite dish down.

The current conservation area is not covered by an Article 4 declaration, although the consultation document proposes changing this. This gives the council extra powers to enforce the conservation area and make you change your uPVC windows back to wood.