About conservation areas
What are Conservation Areas?
We define Conservation Areas as 'areas of special architectural or historic interest, the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance'.
We designate Conservation Areas and, within them, we promote high standards of design as additional controls are exercised over new development, demolition and work to certain trees within the Conservation Area.
Read about designating and managing a conservation Area on Historic England's website.
Trees in Conservation Areas
Read about trees within Conservation Areas.
Article 4 Direction
The introduction of an Article 4 Direction in the Alston Conservation Area was in 1996. An Article 4 Direction gives further control over minor developments and alterations to properties.
Read about Article 4 Direction on the Historic England website
Where are the Conservation Areas?
In Eden district there are 30 Conservation Areas, six of these are in the Lake District National Park, a further six are now within the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
See the list of the 18 Conservation areas in Eden for details of each area, boundary plans and character appraisals.
Conservation Areas in the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales National Park
See Conservation Areas on the Lake District National Park's website. The Lake District National Park Authority is responsible for Conservation Areas in the Lake District National Park.
See Conservation Areas on the Yorkshire Dales National Park's website. The Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority is responsible for Conservation Areas in the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
Development in Conservation Areas
Planning applications in Conservation Areas are advertised in the Cumberland and Westmorland Herald so that anyone has the opportunity to comment. We want to ensure that any new developments in Conservation Areas complement the existing character of the area and do not detract from it.
Contact Development Management for advice on development proposals within Conservation Areas.
Guidance
Read the Management of Conservation Areas Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) (PDF: 2Mb / 31 pages) for a generic guide for all our Conservation Areas. It highlights specific issues in individual Conservation Areas and we will use the SPD to determine planning applications in Conservation Areas.
View the list of useful conservation links for general guidance for owners and occupiers of listed buildings, or buildings in Conservation Areas, or advice on replacement windows and doors.