Conservation Areas

Under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 local authorities have the power to designate as conservation areas, any areas of 'special architectural or historic interest, the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance.'

Designation gives control over certain types of demolition or alteration to 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.

Conservation Areas within Stafford Borough

To view the list of Conservation Areas within Stafford Borough, please click here. Stafford Borough's Conservation Areas are also viewable through the Local Plan proposal maps as part of the Stafford Borough Local Plan 2001. To view the proposal maps, please click here.

Conservation Area Reviews/Character Appraisals

Under Section 69.2 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, it states that Local Planning Authorities are obliged to review their Conservation Areas in order to justify their future status, and make amendments to boundaries where considered necessary. Currently, Stafford Borough has two adopted Appraisals.

Eccleshall Conservation Area Document (February 2001)

Stone Conservation Area Appraisal (October 2008)

Article 4 Directions (within Conservation Areas)

Article 4 Directions can be issued within Conservation Areas in order to give further protection from potential harmful development of unlisted buildings. The provision of such a direction is given under the Town & Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995, and withdraws certain permitted development rights, such as removal of timber windows, doors, chimneys and painting of previously unpainted brickwork. Like for like repairs are usually permitted but dialogue with the conservation officer is recommended. Currently, there are two Article 4 Directions designated within Stafford Borough.

• Stone Article 4 (1996) - Confirmed 3rd April 1997
• Eccleshall Article 4 (1999) - Confirmed 14th January 1999 (Appendix 2 of Eccleshall Conservation Area Document, 2001)

For more information regarding Conservation Areas (Guidance Notes) please click here.

For more information regarding Trees in Conservation Areas please click here.