Designation as a conservation area has the following implications:

·        Permitted development rights under the Town & Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Scotland) Order 1992 are restricted. Planning permission is therefore required for stonecleaning, external painting, roof alterations and the formation of hard surfaces. The area of extensions to dwelling houses which may be erected without consent is also restricted to 16m² and there are additional control over satellite dishes.

·        Under Article 4 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Scotland) Order 1992, the planning authority can seek approval of the Scottish Ministers for Directions that restrict permitted development rights. The Directions effectively control the proliferation of relatively minor alterations to buildings in conservation areas that can cumulatively lead to erosion of character and appearance. Development is not precluded, but such alterations will require planning permission and special attention will be paid to the potential effect of proposals. The Craigmillar Park Conservation Area is currently covered by the full range of Article 4 Direction Orders:

1        enlargement, improvement or other alteration of a dwelling house

3        provision or alteration of buildings or enclosures within the curtilage of a dwelling house

6        installation, alteration or replacement of satellite antennae

7        construction or alteration of gates, fences, walls or other means of enclosure

30      local authority development

33      local authority development

38      water undertakings

39           development by gas suppliers

40           development by electricity undertakers

·        Special attention must be paid to the character and appearance of the conservation area when planning controls are being exercised. Most applications for planning permission for alterations will, therefore, be advertised for public comment and any views expressed must be taken into account when making a decision on the application.

·        Within conservation areas the demolition of unlisted buldings requires conservation area consent.

·        Alterations to windows are controlled in terms of the Council’s policy.

·        Trees within conservation areas are covered by the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997. The Act applies to the uprooting, felling or lopping of trees having a diameter exceeding 75mm at a point 1.5m above ground level, and concerns the lopping of trees as much as removal. The planning authority must be given six week’s notice of the intention to uproot, fell or lop trees. Failure to give notice render the person liable to the same penalties as for contravention of a Tree Preservation Order (TPO).

·        Grants may be available towards the repair or restoration of historic buildings. The Council runs a Conservation Grant Scheme. Such grants are normally dependent on comprehensive repair and restoration of original features and priority is given to tenemental housing and prominent listed buildings.