Clifton Park Conservation Area

Clifton Park Conservation Area was designated in July 2004. Clifton Road is located in a residential area immediately to the south west of the main commercial centre of Birkenhead. It is separated from the commercial centre by Borough Road and the flyovers associated with the Mersey Tunnel. Clifton Road runs straight up the hill towards Whetstone Lane and the hill of Higher Tranmere.

From the 1820s to the 1840s Birkenhead grew from a small village to a sizeable town. The ambitions of William Laird, shipbuilder, led to the development of Hamilton Square and Birkenhead Park. Residential villas of high quality spread out from the town and park and occupied the higher land or the banks of the Mersey where air was cleaner and views more extensive.

Clifton Park was one of these residential areas and was laid out by developer Captain William Sharp to a layout by the architect Walter Scott around 1840. Scott is known to have been a prolific designer of buildings in Birkenhead around Oxton, Birkenhead Park and Clifton Road.

The Conservation Area Guidance leaflet explains what a Conservation Area is and how the designation or extension of one affects those who live there. The aim is to provide general guidance and advice on the type of works that normally require planning permission as a result of designation.