Historic Environment and Planning

Planning authorities have the responsibility for designating conservation areas, which are areas of special architectural or historic interest. There are 30 conservation areas within East Lothian, with the most recently designated being the Harlawhill area of Prestonpans.

Maps of the designated conservation areas are available to download.

Within conservation areas special attention must be paid to development proposals. The extent of development that can be carried out in conservation areas without planning permission is more limited than it is in other areas, and permission can be needed for relatively minor work, such as replacing windows, changing the colour of a building, or for garages, garden sheds, oil storage tanks, porches, rooflights, walls, and fences. Demolition in a conservation area also requires consent.The Council must be notified 6 weeks in advance of any work to trees or felling of trees within a conservation area. Please see the further information on trees.

All conservation areas are covered by an Article 4 Direction (The East Lothian Council (Restriction of Permitted Development) (Conservation Areas) Direction 2026) that came into force on 26 February 2026. It restricts some classes of permitted development. That means that for property within any conservation area in East Lothian planning permission will be required for those classes of development.  These are:

• Class 6C – chimney flue as part of a biomass heating system;
• Class 6F – flue as part of a combined heat and power system;
• Class 7 – the erection, construction, maintenance, improvement or alteration of a gate, fence, wall or other means of enclosure;
• Class 8 – construction of a means of access to a road;
• Class 11B – change of use of a building such as a shop to a use within class 4 (business);
• Class 27 – the carrying out of works on land within the boundaries of a private road or private way;
• Class 33 – works by a local authority for work not exceeding £250,000;
• Class 35 – work to harbours and piers (applies to Cockenzie Port Seton, Dunbar and North Berwick conservation areas only);
• Class 38 – water undertakings.

Our Development Management service provides advice to residents who are considering carrying out any works on property within a conservation area. It can advise you on:

• the need for planning permission
• what you should submit with an application
• matters that will be taken into account in deciding an application

If you have any questions please  email environment@eastlothian.gov.uk.

Decisions on planning applications must ensure that a conservation area's special architectural or historic character is preserved or enhanced. Proposals detrimental to the character and appearance of a conservation area will not be supported.

Conservation Area Character Statements

The adopted Local Development Plan 2018 is supported by the Cultural Heritage and the Built Environment SPG which contains short Conservation Area Character Statements for each of East Lothian's 30 conservation areas. These note their special architectural and historic character. Both character statements and character appraisals are material considerations in the determination of planning applications in a Conservation Area.

How to apply for planning permission

If planning permission is required, you must fill in the standard planning application forms available from the Scottish Government website. The forms include guidance notes to help you fill them in. If you need any extra help you should contact the Duty Planner. If you are employing an architect as an agent for your application, they can fill in the forms on your behalf.