Conservation Areas

The legal definition of a Conservation Area is set out in Section 69 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as being:

Conservation Areas are primarily concerned with the built environment.

Detailed information on conservation areas is provided by our Conservation Team, links below:

• Conservation areas in Shrewsbury and Atcham.
• Main Conservation section

When applications for Planning Permission are made for any form of development within a conservation area, the Council must pay special attention to how these proposals would affect the character or appearance of the conservation area. Section 72 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 ('The Act') requires that Local Authorities take into consideration the desirability of preserving or enhancing the character or appearance of a conservation area. This requirement may also be considered in assessing development which is proposed outside a conservation area, but which might affect the setting or key views of the conservation area.

The designation of a conservation area is not intended to prevent all changes, especially those which would enhance the character of the area.

There are specific controls over the demolition of buildings, including boundary walls within Conservation Areas. Trees are also protected from felling too. It is therefore advisable to contact the Conservation Officer to ascertain if permission is required for any proposal to demolish buildings and other structures within a Conservation Area.

Generally, in a conservation area, preservation can be achieved by the refusal of permission for the demolition and/or alteration of any building or structure where this work would result in damage to the character or appearance of the area.

Development in a Conservation Area can also be restricted through Article 4 Direction. This is where some or all 'permitted development' rights (work that would not normally require planning permission eg. replacement windows/doors) have been removed from a site or area.

At present there is no fee payable for an application for Conservation Area Consent (total demolition of a building with a volume greater than 115 cubic meters and some sizes of walls/fences).