What are Conservation Areas?
Conservation Areas, are "areas of special architectural or historic interest, the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance".
They are designated by local authorities. Designation gives control over the demolition of buildings and provides the basis for policies designed to preserve or enhance all the aspects of character or appearance that define an area's special interest.
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There are currently 22 Conservation Areas in Gateshead
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Axwell Park
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Birtley
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Blaydon Bank
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Bradley Park
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Bridges (Gateshead)
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Chowdene
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Clara Vale
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Coatsworth
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Crowhall (Felling)
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Gibside
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Lamesley
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Lintzford
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Lowfell
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Marley Hill
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Path Head
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Ravensworth
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Rowlands
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Ryton
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Saltwell
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Sheriff Hill
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Walker Terrace/
Regent Street (Gateshead)
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Whickham
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They represent the variety of historic townscapes and landscapes and include such varied sites as historic cores of towns and villages, mining villages, Georgian country estates and Victorian housing.
They are designated usually because of their buildings but they can also be designated because of their history, architecture, layout or private spaces, such as gardens, parks and greens; trees or street furniture.
Conservation areas give broader protection than listing individual buildings and all features within the area, listed or otherwise, are recognised as part of its character.
The designation of a conservation area indicates the Council's positive commitment to these areas and its intention to preserve and enhance the quality of the environment. However, conservation areas are not open-air museums but living communities which must be allowed to change over time in order to remain vital and prosperous. Consequently the emphasis is to guide and control development rather than to prevent it. It is important though, that all new development should be sympathetic to the special architectural and aesthetic qualities of the area, particularly in terms of scale, design, materials and space between buildings.
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What does designation mean?
Within a Conservation Area the Council has extra controls over the following:
Demolition
To demolish a building needs Conservation Area Consent. Generally we view an application from the stand point of trying to retain the building so a case needs to be made for its demolition. There are no fees for this application and there is a right of appeal against refusal.
Minor developments
In a conservation area, you need planning permission for changes to buildings which would normally be permitted. Changes requiring consent include cladding a building, inserting dormer windows, or putting up a satellite dish visible from the street. However, you are advised to contact the Council for advice before considering works to properties within a conservation area in order to make sure that you apply for the right consents.
Trees
Anyone proposing to cut down, prune or carry out any other work to a tree in a conservation area, whether or not it is covered by a tree preservation order, has to give notice to the Council.
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What policies are used to control development?
Our main body of conservation policy is in the Unitary Development Plan ( UDP ): Section 11 The Environment includes conservation policy with wider planning policies for the area. Policies in the Conservation section generally presume against the loss of features which add to the special interest of the areas. These policies are used in the determination of planning applications in conservation areas.
Additional detailed guidance is included in the Government's Planning Policy Guidance Note PPG15: Planning and the Historic Environment.
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The Success of Conservation Areas
The ultimate success of conservation areas will depend upon the care which individual owners take with the maintenance and repair of their properties and in any alterations or extensions they make.
For example original windows and doors should be repaired where possible, or replaced with new ones to match the originals in terms of materials used and details of their design.
Cumulatively, even small changes can detract from the special character of an area.
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Conservation Area Consent
This is required if you intend to demolish certain buildings in Conservation Areas. Download the application form on the right hand side.
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