Conservation Areas

Introduction

Local Planning Authorities have a statutory duty, under Section 69 of the Planning ( Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, to designate as Conservation Areas, those areas of special architectural or historic interest, the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance.

A large part of Shrewsbury and many villages of Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough have a distinctive character that are worthy of special protection.  These may contain listed or unlisted buildings, ancient or comparatively recent structures, as well as open spaces, gardens or parkland.

Read more about Conservation Areas on the Planning Portal.

Urban Conservation Areas

The Town Centre Conservation Area is broken down into nine distinct areas:  

Shrewsbury town centre including Frankwell and Mountfields, Abbey Foregate and Cherry Orchard Castlefields and Spring Gardens, Kingsland,Underdale Road  and Sutton Road.  Other Conservation Areas found in and around the urban area of Shrewsbury are: 

• Belle Vue
• Chatwood Village (Harlescott)
• Meole Brace
• The Mount

Rural Conservation Areas

• Acton Burnell
• Alberbury
• Astley
• Cardington
• Church Pulverbatch
• Condover
• Ford
• Habberley
• Harley
• Plealey
• Upton Magna
• Westbury

Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council has 17 Conservation Areas and there is a programme to regularly review and produce appraisals for each of these.  Click on the Menu items to the left or above to view maps and Conservation Area Appraisals for these Conservation Areas.

What are the effects of Conservation Area designation?

The Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 requires that local authorities pay special attention to the desirability of preserving or enhancing the character or appearance of a Conservation Area. Consequently there are more stringent planning controls and obligations in respect of new development, demolitions, alterations, highway works and advertisements.

Planning Permission

You may need to apply for planning permission for alterations or extensions that would not normally require planning permission outside of Conservation Areas. Conservation Area Consent is required for the total or substantial demolition of unlisted buildings in Conservation Areas and it is an offence to demolish such buildings without consent.

In Conservation Areas development control officers will deal with applications for planning permission or Conservation Area consent with input and support from the Conservation Team. Applications will be subject to the usual time limits and procedures of any planning application.

Applications are considered against conservation policies and can be refused on conservation grounds alone. Permission or consent should only be granted if a proposal enhances or preserves the character or appearance of the Conservation Area. As with a planning application outside a Conservation Area, an applicant maintains the right to appeal against a refusal for planning permission, or against any conditions attached to a permission or consent.

When planning permission is required detailed plans and elevations must be submitted, to 1:50 or 1:100 scale. Details of siting, construction materials, and architectural detailing are also usually required.

The Borough Council will encourage new development to be sympathetic to its context, have regard to local traditions and materials and will encourage the retention of features that contribute to the character and appearance of the conservation area, such as walls, fences, hedgerows, and take these into account when considering development proposals.

Article 4 Direction

Under the Town and Country Planning General Permitted Development Order 1995 certain works may be undertaken without the need for planning permission and are known as 'permitted development'. Within Conservation Areas permitted development is more restrictive, in particular for extensions and alterations to houses and for other development within residential curtilages.

Not all works in a Conservation Area require consent but their character is comprised of many building types, with a wide range of details.  The cumulative effect of inappropriate changes to windows, doors, chimneys and roof materials can have a major adverse impact on the overall character of the area. For this reason the District Council may resolve to make additional Article 4 and Article 4(2) directions in the future to control minor alterations to buildings. 

In making an Article 4 direction certain permitted development rights are withdrawn for a prescribed range of works.  These are works that materially affect some aspects of the external appearance of houses, such as windows, doors, roofs, and frontages.  Householders in areas affected by an Article 4 direction need to make an application to the Local Planning Authority for permission to undertake such work.
 
Please find below a list of properties affected by the Article 4(2) Direction.

(word format,  24kb)

Read more about Article 4 Direction on Wikipedia or on the website of the Institute of Historic Building Conservation.

Conservation Area Grants

For those properties that fall within Conservation Areas and particularly those covered by an Article 4 Direction there may be grant aid available under the Conservation Enhancement Grant. 

Trees

Trees in Conservation Areas are also afforded additional protection. You must give the Council six weeks notice, in writing, before any work is carried out to prune or fell a tree in a Conservation Area.

Further information and guidance

The District Council has produced Conservation Area Guidance Notes which are freely available and provide details of the Council's policies for Conservation Areas as set out in the Local Plan together with further advice about repairs, alterations and new development in Conservation Areas. These are in addition to appraisals which are produced for each Conservation Area and attempt to explain the character of an area as well as indicating the boundary and a summary of the implications of living in a specific Conservation Area.

For more detailed guidance or to discuss a particular Conservation Area, building or proposal, please contact one of the Borough's Conservation Officers, who will be happy to help.

Tel: (01743) 281317

Email: planningconservation@shrewsbury.gov.uk

Alternatively for general planning advice, please contact the Development Control Team.

Tel: (01743) 281312 or by email : planningdevelopmentcontrol@shrewsbury.gov.uk