Conservation Area Consent

The City’s historic areas are protected as conservation areas. In a conservation area, demolition is subject to Council planning control. 

If you live in a conservation area, you will require Conservation Area Consent to:

• Demolish a building with a volume of greater than 115 cubic metres.
• Demolish a wall, fence, gate or railing over 1 metre in height next to a highway (including a public footpath or bridleway) or public open space; or over 2 metres in height elsewhere. 
• In some cases Conservation Area Consent is needed to demolish a substantial part of a building where it would leave a cleared site. 

Is my property in a conservation area?

You can find out whether your building or street is in a conservation area by entering the postcode into our ‘My neighbourhood’ search on this site.

Applications for permission

Conservation Area Consent application form.

Applications for planning permission for new development in conservation areas are more rigorously assessed to consider whether proposals preserve or enhance the special character or appearance of the conservation area. 

Conservation areas often include individually listed buildings for which normal listed building controls apply to protect both the interior and exterior.