DOT Extensions & loft conversions in Burton upon Trent
Burton’s famous brewing water gets its character from gypsum in the ground. Its biggest building project of recent years has been on the river. A £30m flood scheme now protects thousands of homes along the Trent. Here’s what to know before extending a house in Burton.
Local information last checked October 2026Burton’s new flood defences
The Environment Agency’s Burton flood scheme started in June 2019 and upgraded 3.7km of flood walls and embankments from Branston to Clay Mills. Together with earlier work, Burton now has about 9km of upgraded defences. It protects about 4,500 homes and 1,000 businesses, and was already working during Storm Christoph before its official opening in July 2021.
Defences reduce risk but don’t remove it. Staffordshire’s resilience forum puts the number of Burton addresses still at some risk, from the river, surface water and culverted brooks, at around 11,000.
If you’re near the Trent or a brook, check your address. It can affect floor levels and drainage on an extension.
Sources: Gov.uk: Burton flood scheme · Check your flood risk
Seven conservation areas in the town
East Staffordshire has 25 conservation areas, and these are in Burton itself:
- Burton upon Trent Town Centre
- Clarence Street & Anglesey Road
- George Street
- Horninglow Street / Guild Street
- King Edward Place
- Station Street & Borough Road
- the Trent & Mersey Canal
Tutbury, Rolleston on Dove and Barton under Needwood have their own too.
In a conservation area, side extensions, roof alterations and additions, and cladding all need planning permission. The council also has a small number of Article 4 directions, which remove further rights. Check with East Staffordshire if you’re in or near one.
Sources: East Staffs: conservation areas · East Staffs: work in a conservation area
Burton, or over the border in Derbyshire?
| If you live in… | Planning is handled by | Building control |
|---|---|---|
| Burton Stapenhill, Winshill, Horninglow, Branston, Stretton, plus Tutbury | East Staffordshire Borough Council | East Staffordshire’s own team |
| Swadlincote and villages to the east | South Derbyshire District Council | Central Building Control Partnership |
Burton is in Staffordshire, but Swadlincote, a few miles away, is in South Derbyshire.
The ground the beer came from
Gypsum, and why Burton brewed so well
The Mercia Mudstone under the area holds thick bands of gypsum, especially around Fauld and Hanbury. Groundwater in the Trent gravels around Burton is rich in calcium sulphate as a result, which is what made the water so good for brewing pale ales.
For building, it’s a reminder that the ground varies a lot across the area. Foundation design should come from what’s actually under your house, not from a rule of thumb.
What we build in and around Burton
Questions we get asked locally
Is my house in Burton protected by the new flood defences?
The scheme protects about 4,500 homes along the Trent, but surface water and culverted brooks are separate risks. Check your exact address on the government’s flood risk service.
Do I need planning for a loft conversion in Burton?
Usually not, if you’re outside a conservation area and within the Permitted Development volume limits. In one of Burton’s conservation areas, roof additions need permission.
Do you cover Stapenhill, Winshill and Branston?
Yes, all of Burton and the villages around it. We’re local to the area.
Also close by
Uttoxeter
Our home patch. Three councils within a few miles, and the Picknall Brook.
See Uttoxeter →Derbyshire DalesDoveridge
Two miles from Uttoxeter, but a different county and a different council.
See Doveridge →Cannock ChaseRugeley
On the edge of Cannock Chase, with five conservation areas.
See Rugeley →We’ve linked to the official sources so you can check the detail for your own address. Council rules and fees change, so always confirm with your council before applying.
Planning building work in Burton?
Tell us your address and what you’re after. We’ll check the flood map and conservation rules, and give you a fixed price.
Our services in Burton upon Trent
Every service below is available in Burton upon Trent and the villages around it, with a free site visit and fixed-price quote.