Welcome To Wirral
Conservation Area Information
Conservation Areas in the borough
What Is A Conservation Area?
Conservation Areas are areas that are considered to have a special architectural or historical interest. It is important to preserve or enhance the special character and appearance of these areas for the future.
Historical road layouts, grouping of buildings, street furniture and surfaces all add to the appearance and character of an area. Within Conservation Areas the Council has powers to control demolition, extensions and other alterations. In the Bromborough Pool Conservation Area there is an Article 4 Direction. This Direction is used to further control minor alterations that affect the appearance of buildings within the Conservation Area.
Frequently Asked Questions:
- Where are the Conservation Areas?
- How does living in a Conservation Area affect me?
- What works require Conservation Area Consent from the Council?
Where Are The Conservation Areas?
There are 24 Conservation Areas in Wirral. Click on the name to view the applicable UDP policy.
- Barnston Village (Policy CH21)
- Bidston Village (Policy CH4)
- Birkenhead Park (Policy CH6)
- Bromborough Village (Policy CH20)
- Bromborough Pool (Policy CH22)
- Caldy (Policy CH11)
- Clifton Park
- Eastham Village (Policy CH10)
- Flaybrick Cemetery (Policy CH23)
- Frankby Village (Policy CH12)
- Gayton (Policy CH13)
- Hamilton Square (Policy CH5)
- Heswall Lower Village (Policy CH14)
- Meols Drive
- Mountwood
- Oxton Village (Policy CH7)
- Port Sunlight (Policy CH9)
- Rock Park (Policy CH8)
- Saughall Massie (Policy CH17)
- The King's Gap
- The Magazines
- Thornton Hough (Policy CH15)
- Thurstaston (Policy CH19)
- Wellington Road - New Brighton (Policy CH18)
- West Kirby - Old Village (Policy CH16)
How Does Living In A Conservation Area Affect Me?
There are extra controls designed to help ensure that the Conservation Area remains a special place. Any alterations or new buildings should be in keeping with the character of the area. There are Conservation Area Policies for each area with guidelines and the individual policies are indicated above.
Alterations to the exterior of buildings within a Conservation Area may also require planning permission, and an application may be needed for some works to houses in Conservation Areas and other buildings affected by an Article 4 direction which otherwise would not require one.
What Works Require Conservation Area Consent From The Council?
Certain works require Conservation Area Consent for work to be carried out. This includes:
Demolition of Buildings
The substantial demolition of most buildings and structures, including walls and outhouses (please refer to Policy CH3). If demolition is being considered then advice should be sought from the Council, please ask for the Conservation Team (0151 606 2020).
Trees
If you wish to fell, lop, top or uproot trees within a Conservation Area, you must give the Council six weeks notice in writing. It is an offence to carry out the work within that period without the consent of the Council.
Satellite Dishes
The siting of a satellite dish on the chimney stack or on the roof slope or elevation fronting the road requires consent from the Council.
Alterations to Roofs and Cladding of Buildings
Proposals to change the profile of a roof, for example with the provision of a dormer window, and to clad a building with a different material, such as imitation stone, require consent from the Council.
Design of New Development
The Council has the power to require a high standard of design which is sympathetic to the existing environment. New development must make a positive contribution to the character of the area. In view of this the Council can require additional information in support of any planning application showing how the proposal will relate to the Conservation Area. This can mean the submission of elevations of adjacent buildings, full details of the proposal and examples of materials and colours. Usually only a fully detailed planning application will be considered, which should be accompanied by a Design and Access Statement. The Council must advertise all planning applications affecting the character of Conservation Areas both on site and in the local press.
Before you begin any work or alterations, you should contact Planning Section and the Building Control Section for further advice and guidance and complete an application form, which can be downloaded from our website pages.