Lots of Edinburgh's best-loved streets are in a conservation area. Living in one is lovely, but it can mean more paperwork if you want to change the outside of the building. Here's what the council says it means for you as a buyer.
Check a street with the Flat Risk Check
What a conservation area is
The council describes conservation areas as areas of special architectural or historic interest. There are 50 in Edinburgh, and extra rules control building work in them. You can browse all 50, with the streets inside each, or check a single street with the Flat Risk Check.
What it means for alterations
- Before planning work, the council asks you to read its guidance on listed buildings and conservation areas.
- Some work needs conservation area consent.
- The council publishes a character appraisal for each area, explaining what makes it special.
Windows
The council says permitted development rights changed in May 2024. In a conservation area, alterations to a rear elevation that isn't a principal elevation, or to a side that doesn't face a road, don't need planning permission. Windows on the front, or on a side facing a road, can go in as an application for prior approval. Those changes don't apply in the World Heritage Site or to listed buildings. Full details are in our windows and alterations guide.
What it doesn't mean
Being in a conservation area isn't a judgement on the condition of a flat. It's about the character of the area, so it mostly matters if you plan to change things.
How to check
Our street and postcode pages use the street midpoint or postcode centre point, so a long street can cross a boundary. Always confirm the exact address on the council's interactive map.
Not legal advice. This is a plain-English summary of official sources to help you know what to ask. Every property is different, so check the details with your solicitor, surveyor or the council before you rely on it.
Related
Buying a flat in Edinburgh: the checklist · Listed building flats · All conservation areas · Browse postcode areas · Search a street
Sources (checked 2026-11-06): Council: conservation areas · Council: character appraisals · Council: prior approval for windows · Council: conservation area consent. Summaries are our wording; the council's pages are authoritative.