Tradespeople in Christchurch

Christchurch is in the BCP Council area, so planning applications and building control go through BCP Council.

There are 4 conservation areas within a kilometre of the centre of Christchurch, and 118 listed buildings within a kilometre of the centre, 6 of them Grade I. If your home is in a conservation area, the work you can do without planning permission is more limited, so check before changing windows, doors, roofs or front boundaries. Listed buildings need listed building consent for most changes, inside and out.

The centre of Christchurch is within 5km of the protected Dorset Heathlands. The Dorset Heathlands Planning Framework covers additional homes built between 400 metres and five kilometres of the heaths, so if you're planning to build a new home here, ask the council about it early.

Some land within a kilometre of the centre of Christchurch is in Flood Zone 3, the Environment Agency's highest flood risk category, from rivers and the sea. Check the flood risk for your address before major ground-floor work, and ask about flood-resilient options when you replace floors, kitchens or electrics.

Close to the sea, salt air and wind are hard on metal fixings, window hardware and paintwork, so ask tradespeople about materials and finishes suited to coastal homes.