What is a Conservation Area?
One of the duties of the Council is to consider all parts of the city to see if any areas have special qualities that make them of special architectural or historic interest. From this assessment areas of special interest are designated as Conservation Areas. Further information on how Conservation Areas are designated and the Conservation Area appraisal process can be found on Historic England’s website.
Conservation Area designation covers all of the buildings within the defined area, but also the roads and footpaths, trees and open spaces, street furniture, garden walls and railings, and anything else that contributes to the character of the area.
How does being in a Conservation Area affect me?
Conservation Areas are subject to extra planning controls than other non-designated areas. This means that there are more restrictions and you will need to apply to the Council for permission to carry out some developments in a Conservation Area. More details on this are provided in this pdf guidance document (151 KB) .
Otherwise permitted development is allowed the same as elsewhere unless the area is designated under an Article 4 direction.
Article 4 Directions
Article 4 Directions withdraw certain permitted development rights, for example, rights to alter a front elevation or remove a boundary wall without planning permission. The directions are only put in place where it is considered important to retain original features in order to maintain the historic and architectural character of a Conservation Area. Property owners in areas affected by an Article 4 Direction need to apply for planning permission to undertake works set out in the Article 4 Direction. No fee needs be paid where an application for planning permission is required as a result of an Article 4 Direction.
Currently, the following Conservation Areas have Article 4 directions applied to them:
- York Place (Britannia Square Conservation Area)
- Shrubbery Avenue Conservation Area
- Park Avenue Conservation Area’
The Council provides a permitted development advice service to find out if what you are proposing is permitted development.
Guidance Documents
The Council and Historic England provide guidance which applies to design in conservation areas or if you are planning to make repairs or alterations to improve the environmental efficiency of your property.
Worcester City Conservation Areas
There are currently 18 Conservation Areas within Worcester City for which the Council regularly provides and reviews Conservation Area Appraisals and Management Plans. These describe the special character and significance of the Conservation Areas and set out any proposals for their enhancement.
You can find out if your property is within one of these Conservation Areas through My Local Area.
When considering proposals for development within, or within the setting of, a Conservation Area, the Council has a legal duty to ensure its preservation and/or enhancement. Design of new development is therefore highly important in or adjoining Conservation Areas. The Council provides a pre-application service for advice prior to submitting a planning application.
The Council uses a Conservation Advisory Panel (CAP) to provide feedback on planning applications relating to Conservation Areas and Listed Buildings. The comments from this group are then considered and applied by the planning officers and considered by Planning Committee when decisions are made on the application.
Historic City
Historic City Conservation Area (designated 1969) covers Worcester City Centre; extending south from the railway line to the canal at Diglis Basin, between the River Severn and City Walls Road.
St. Johns
St Johns Conservation Area (designated 1969, last reviewed 2010) includes the spaces, lanes and buildings off St. Johns.
- pdf Map of St. Johns (738 KB)
- pdf Appraisal Summary Document - St Johns (1.93 MB)
- pdf Appraisal Document - St Johns (5.69 MB)
Lansdowne Crescent and Rainbow Hill
Lansdowne Crescent and Rainbow Hill Conservation Area (designated 1969) covers the buildings and spaces off Lansdowne Crescent, Reservoir Lane, Terrace Walk and the connecting section of Rainbow Hill.
Britannia Square
Britannia Square Conservation Area (designated 1969, last reviewed 2010) comprises the area surrounding Britannia Square; extending south from York Place to Back Lane South, between The Moors/Stephenson Road and Back Walk.
- pdf Map of Britannia Square (2.13 MB)
- pdf Appraisal Summary Document - Britannia Square (4.16 MB)
- pdf Appraisal Document - Britannia Square (41.08 MB)
York Place Article 4 Direction
There is currently an Article 4 Direction in place for York Place in the Britannia Square Conservation Area. The Direction has been in place since 1986 to protect the historic group value of the unlisted buildings on York Place and to retain the repeated historical features that give York Place its special character.
Related Documentation
Sidbury and Fort Royal
Sidbury and Fort Royal Conservation Area (designated 1980, last reviewed 2011) encompasses the area surrounding London Road, Fort Royal Hill and Green Hill; extending south from Park Street as far as Battenhall Road, between the canal and Rose Bank.
- pdf Map of Sidbury and Fort Royal (1.05 MB)
- pdf Appraisal Summary Document - Sidbury and Fort Royal (4.18 MB)
- pdf Appraisal Document - Sidbury and Fort Royal (12.44 MB)
Lark Hill
Lark Hill (designated 1980, last reviewed 2017) encompasses Perry Wood Walk (between Wood Walk and London Road), including Wychelm Close.
St. Georges Square
St. Georges Square Conservation Area (designated 1980) incorporates the area surrounding St George’s Square, and south-westwards as far as Barbourne Crescent and Thornloe Walk.
Foregate Street and The Tything
Foregate Street and The Tything Conservation Area (designated 1980, last reviewed 2011) incorporates the buildings, streets and spaces off Barbourne Road, Upper Tything, The Tything, and Foregate Street southwards as far as Foregate Street Station.
- pdf Map of Foregate Street and the Tything (1.57 MB)
- pdf Appraisal Summary Document - Foregate Street and The Tything (3.47 MB)
- pdf Appraisal Document - Foregate Street and The Tything (23.78 MB)
Warndon Court
Warndon Court Conservation Area (designated 1986, last reviewed 2018) includes the buildings and spaces surrounding St Nicholas Church and Warndon Court Farm.
Trotshill
Trotshill Conservation Area (designated 1986, last reviewed 2018) covers the buildings and spaces surrounding Trotshill Lane and Trotshill Lane East.
Claines
Claines Conservation Area (designated 1989) includes the buildings and spaces around Claines Lane and Cornmeadow Lane; surrounding St John the Baptist Church.
The Canal
The Canal Conservation Area (designated 1989, last reviewed 2011) encompasses the full extent of the Worcester and Birmingham Canal as it flows through Worcester City, as well as the adjoining associated buildings and spaces.
- pdf Map of Canal (5.61 MB)
- pdf Appraisal Summary Document - The Canal (9.34 MB)
- pdf Appraisal Document - The Canal (19.31 MB)
Lowesmoor
Lowesmoor Conservation Area (designated 1989, last reviewed 2017) includes the buildings and spaces around Lowesmoor, St Martins Quarter and Sansome Place.
Field Terrace
Field Terrace Conservation Area (designated 1989, last reviewed 2020) includes the buildings and spaces around Field Terrace and Lower Field terrace, between Bath Road and Diglis Road.
Riverside
Riverside Conservation Area (designated 1992, last reviewed 2020) covers the buildings, streets and spaces around and associated with the River Severn from Northwick to Temeside Way, and westwards to Powick Mills
Shrubbery Avenue
Shrubbery Avenue Conservation Area (designated 1993, last reviewed 2019) includes the buildings and spaces around Shrubbery Avenue, including parts of Shrubbery Road, Flag Meadow Walk and Barbourne Road.
Shrubbery Avenue Conservation Area Article 4 Direction
The Article 4 Direction covering Shrubbery Avenue Conservation Area was approved by Worcester City Council’s Planning Committee on 13 December 2018 and came into effect on 20 December 2018. The Article 4 Direction seeks to protect the historic group value of the unlisted buildings, retain their historic features and prevent further historic boundary treatments from being removed for parking, thereby eroding the character of the street.
Related Documentation
- pdf Article 4 Direction Notice - Shrubbery Avenue (227 KB)
- pdf Article 4 Direction with Plan - Shrubbery Avenue (1.75 MB)
- pdf Shrubbery Avenue Conservation Area Design Guide (1.44 MB)
Royal Infirmary
Royal Infirmary Conservation Area (designated 2005) encompasses the buildings and spaces around the Royal Infirmary, from Castle Street south to the railway line.
Battenhall Villas
Battenhall Villas Conservation area (designated 2006, last reviewed 2010) incorporates the buildings and spaces around Battenhall Road and Battenhall Avenue.
- pdf Map of Battenhall Villas (243 KB)
- pdf Appraisal Summary Documen - Battenhall Villas (6.65 MB)
- pdf Appraisal Document - Battenhall Villas (4.21 MB)
Park Avenue
Park Avenue conservation area designation 2020 from Ombersley Road to Sabrina Avenue.
Park Avenue Article 4 Direction
The Article 4 Direction covering Park Avenue Conservation Area was approved by Worcester City Council’s Planning Committee on 20 August 2020 and came into effect on 27 August 2020. The Article 4 Direction seeks to protect the historic group value of the unlisted buildings, retain their historic features and prevent further historic boundary treatments from being removed for parking, thereby eroding the character of the street.
Related Documentation
- pdf Article 4 Direction Notice – Park Avenue (123 KB)
- pdf Article 4 Direction with Plan – Park Avenue (294 KB)
- pdf Park Avenue Conservation Area Design Guide (1.43 MB)
Further information
If you wish to have any further information in relation to our Conservation Areas then please complete our enquiry form and we will aim to reply within 3-5 working days.