Designing Gardens for Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas

Working on a garden in a listed building or conservation area setting can be one of the most rewarding challenges for a designer — but it also comes with complexities that demand specialist knowledge. At Joe Perkins Design, much of our work involves historic homes and sensitive landscapes, where creativity must go hand in hand with careful compliance.

This article explains why experience designing gardens for listed buildings and conservation areas matters, how planning policy (including the National Planning Policy Framework, or NPPF) shapes what can and can’t be done, and what to look for in a designer if you’re embarking on a heritage-sensitive garden project.

Why Heritage Experience Matters

When you own a listed property or live in a conservation area, your garden is not just private space — it is part of a wider historic environment. Every change has the potential to affect how that setting is perceived and preserved.

The UK planning system places great emphasis on conserving heritage assets. The NPPF makes clear that any harm to the significance of a designated heritage asset — whether it’s a listed building, its curtilage, or the character of a conservation area — must be given substantial weight in planning decisions.

This means even small landscaping changes, such as altering paving, building a garden wall, or introducing lighting, can trigger scrutiny. Without a designer who understands the legislation, you risk:

• Delays or refusals in planning.

• Enforcement action if unapproved work takes place.

• A scheme that undermines, rather than enhances, the historic setting.

  
  

We’ve seen first-hand how early, heritage-aware input can transform what might otherwise be a stressful process into a smooth, creative collaboration.

What Makes Listed and Conservation Projects Different?

Garden and landscape projects in heritage contexts differ from typical schemes in several ways:

• Listed building consent: Works that affect the setting of a listed building, even in the garden, may require formal consent.

• Conservation area controls: In designated conservation areas, additional planning restrictions apply — from tree protection orders (TPOs) to limits on boundary treatments.

• Curtilage structures: Outbuildings, gates, or walls within the curtilage of a listed building may themselves be protected, even if not individually listed.

• Materials and detailing: Hard landscaping, furniture, and finishes must often be chosen to reflect or complement the property’s period.

  
  

For us, this doesn’t restrict design — it challenges us to be more inventive. A garden can still feel contemporary, usable, and tailored to modern living, while respecting historic character.

Our Experience at Joe Perkins Design

Our portfolio includes private gardens and large-scale heritage projects. A highlight of our work is our contribution at Sheffield Park in East Sussex — a Grade I listed landscape managed by the National Trust.

Sheffield Park is one of the country’s most significant historic gardens, with layers of history stretching back centuries. Working in this setting required the highest level of sensitivity: every intervention needed to respect the site’s heritage value, while ensuring that the garden could continue to evolve for modern visitors.

Our role included:

• Collaborating closely with the National Trust’s conservation and horticultural teams.

• Ensuring all proposals were in line with the NPPF’s mandate to sustain and enhance heritage significance.

• Developing designs that balanced visitor experience with conservation priorities.

  
  

Projects like Sheffield Park demonstrate the scale and complexity that heritage-sensitive landscape consultants can navigate — and the value of a design approach that respects history while embracing the future.

Alongside this, we’ve worked on smaller but equally demanding schemes:

• Restoring the gardens of a Georgian townhouse, aligning new planting with historic architecture.

• Creating a modern courtyard for a listed property, where clean, contemporary lines were softened with sympathetic materials.

• Designing within a conservation area, where original boundary walls dictated a planting-led solution.

  
  

Experience and Qualifications to Look For

If you are seeking a landscape designer for listed buildings or a conservation area garden design specialist, here are some key indicators of expertise:

• Portfolio: Completed heritage-sensitive projects, from Grade I landscapes like the Garden for the Future at Sheffield Park to smaller residential settings.

• Regulatory knowledge: Familiarity with listed building consent, conservation area restrictions, and the NPPF.

• Collaborative approach: Proven ability to work with planning officers, conservation specialists, and national organisations such as the Gardens Trust and English Heritage.

• Professional standing: Membership of professional bodies such as the Landscape Institute and the Society of Landscape & Garden Designers.

  
  

At Joe Perkins Design, our award-winning team combines this technical knowledge with the design creativity that underpins everything we do.

How Expertise Smooths the Planning and Design Process

Having the right experience on your side can make a critical difference. A heritage-sensitive designer will:

• Anticipate planning hurdles and prepare the right supporting documentation, such as heritage statements or design rationales.

• Advise on materials and detailing that are more likely to gain approval.

• Blend contemporary and historic influences, ensuring the garden feels of its time while respecting its context.

• Save you time and stress, by managing conversations with local authorities and conservation teams.

  
  

At Joe Perkins Design, we see this as part of our creative responsibility. A good design is not only beautiful on paper — it is deliverable, sustainable, and in harmony with its setting.

FAQs

Can I renovate my garden if my house is listed? 

Yes — but you may need listed building consent, especially if works affect structures, boundaries, or the setting. Early consultation with a qualified designer or planning consultant is essential.

What heritage assessments are needed for gardens?

Most projects will require a heritage impact assessment or a statement of significance to accompany the application. At Joe Perkins Design, we prepare or coordinate these as part of our service.

Do trees in conservation areas need special approval to prune or remove?

Yes. In most cases, you must notify the local planning authority six weeks in advance to gain ‘Tree Works Approval’. Protected trees can strongly influence the design approach and their removal can be contentious.

Designing Gardens for Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas

Garden projects in heritage settings demand more than design skill — they require a thorough understanding of UK planning law, the NPPF, and the sensitivities of historic environments. Choosing a team with proven experience designing gardens for listed buildings and conservation areas ensures your project is not only beautiful but also viable.

From the Grade I listed landscape of Sheffield Park to private historic gardens across the UK, Joe Perkins Design brings expertise, sensitivity, and creativity to every project. If you’d like to discuss your heritage garden project, we’d be delighted to share our experience. Contact us today.