What are conservation areas?

Conservation areas are very special places. Each one is of architectural or historic importance, with a character or appearance to be preserved or enhanced. Conservation areas are not just about individual historic buildings but about the way those buildings are grouped together. The spaces between them, the streets, open areas, landscaping and trees are extremely important.

The borough’s 35 conservation areas are an essential part of local heritage and it is the borough council’s duty to protect them all. Maps showing the boundaries of all the borough’s conservation areas and the date of their designation can be viewed on this website.

Many buildings which add to the special character and local distinctiveness of conservation areas do not have the added protection of being listed by the Secretary of State. A conservation area provides protection against demolition, while Article 4 Directions can be used to restrict certain alterations.

The council is required by law to identify parts of the borough as conservation areas. The legal designation process is simple – the area is identified before a boundary is drawn and then taken to the council’s Sustainable Development Panel for approval. Following designation, the Secretary of State and English Heritage must be notified and details of the conservation area must be published in the local press and the London Gazette. There is no statutory requirement to consult anyone affected by the designation. 

In practice, however, the borough council encourages input from people who will be affected by the designation of a conservation area. Information about what the designation means and a map showing the draft boundary is sent to every property which lies within the boundary or next to it, inviting comments about the proposal. A drop-in session is also held locally to give people the chance to speak to the council’s conservation officers face-to-face and discuss any queries or concerns they may have. The results of the consultations are taken into account when the boundary of the conservation area is finalised. 

Is change allowed in conservation areas?

Conservation areas are not museum exhibits - they are places which must meet the every-day needs of the modern communities that live and work there. Historic settlements evolve over centuries and have seen a great deal of change in that time and will see even more in the future. Looking after conservation areas for future generations is about managing that change, not preventing it.

For further information about conservation areas see Frequently Asked Questions.

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