DOT Extensions & loft conversions in Stone
Stone is a canal town, with the Trent & Mersey running straight through it, and it’s one of only three places in Stafford Borough with Article 4 directions. That means some small changes that normally don’t need permission do need it here. Here’s what to check.
Local information last checked October 2026Two conservation areas, and extra rules in Stone
Stone Conservation Area
Designated in November 1969, with its boundary revised in 2008. Stafford Borough has Article 4 directions in only three places, and Stone is one of them.
They cover changes to windows, doors, roofs, chimneys, porches, boundaries and exterior painting. Normally none of these need permission, but here they do.
Trent & Mersey Canal Conservation Area
The canal has its own conservation area, designated in 1988 and revised in 2014. It runs through Stone, Barlaston, Meaford and Burston.
Homes backing onto the canal are often inside it, which affects side extensions, roof extensions and cladding.
The Neighbourhood Plan and the river
Stone Neighbourhood Plan
The Stone Neighbourhood Plan 2019–2031 was approved at a referendum in May 2021 and formally made in July 2021. If your extension needs planning permission, it’s judged against this plan as well as the borough’s.
Sources: Stafford Borough: adoption decision · Stone Town Council: the plan
The River Trent
The Environment Agency has a River Trent at Stone flood warning area, covering Trent Close and Stafford Street. If you’re near the river, check your address before designing an extension.
Source: Check your flood risk
Stone and its villages
| If you live in… | Planning is handled by | Building control |
|---|---|---|
| Stone, plus Walton, Barlaston, Meir Heath (Fulford parish), Eccleshall | Stafford Borough Council | Shared Cannock Chase & Stafford service |
| Blythe Bridge | Split between Stafford Borough and Staffordshire Moorlands. Check your address. | Depends on your council |
Eccleshall has its own conservation area and Article 4 direction too.
What we build in and around Stone
Questions we get asked locally
Do I need permission to replace my windows in Stone?
If your house is covered by the Article 4 direction, replacing original timber windows can need planning permission. Elsewhere it usually doesn’t. We can check your address.
My house backs onto the canal. Does that matter?
Possibly. The Trent & Mersey Canal Conservation Area takes in a strip along the canal. If your house is inside it, side extensions, dormers and cladding need planning permission.
Do you cover Eccleshall and Barlaston?
Yes, and the rest of the villages around Stone.
Also close by
Uttoxeter
Our home patch. Three councils within a few miles, and the Picknall Brook.
See Uttoxeter →Staffordshire MoorlandsCheadle
Conservation area rules on doors and windows, and the old coalfield.
See Cheadle →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 Stone?
We’ll check the Article 4 and canal rules for your address, and give you a fixed price.
Our services in Stone
Every service below is available in Stone and the villages around it, with a free site visit and fixed-price quote.