Living in a conservation area
The effects of designation
Conservation areas are not about preserving areas exactly as they are and preventing any further development from taking place. They are concerned with how change should happen and where, ensuring that through the management of change, the special qualities of the conservation area are protected and enhanced.
Conservation areas enjoy special protection under law. The key elements are:
- You will need conservation area consent to demolish a building in a conservation area.
- You must give 6 weeks notice, in writing, before carrying out any works to a tree within a conservation area.
- The council is required by law to consider the impact of any proposed development on the character and appearance of the conservation area and to pay special attention to the desirability of preserving and or enhancing the character and or appearance of the area.
For further information about the implications of owning a property in a conservation area, please refer to the document Living in a conservation area