Conservation areas

A conservation area is an 'area of special architectural or historic interest, the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance'.

View our map of the conservation areas in South Tyneside.

There are 11 conservation areas in South Tyneside. They are:

• Cleadon conservation area
• Cleadon Hills conservation area
• East Boldon conservation area
• Hebburn Hall conservation area
• Mariners' Cottages conservation area
• Mill Dam conservation area
• Monkton conservation area
• St Paul's conservation area
• West Boldon conservation area
• Westoe conservation area
• Whitburn conservation area

What is a conservation area

Conservation areas are very much part of the familiar and cherished local scene and can vary considerably in terms of their special qualities, character and appearance.

They are predominantly of local value, although in some instances they are of regional and national significance.

It is the whole area rather than individual buildings that provide the focus of special interest.

The following contribute to the quality and appearance of a historic area:

• public and private spaces
• green space and trees
• characteristic building and paving materials
• the historic layout of roads and paths, and
• the different uses of the buildings 

Conservation areas were first introduced by the Civic Amenities Act 1967, which gives local councils the power to designate areas which people generally feel have a special character worth protecting or enhancing.

They depend on much more than the quality of individual buildings, and take into account features such as:

• building layout
• open spaces
• boundaries
• thoroughfares
• the mix of uses
• use of materials
• street furniture

It is also common for a conservation area to include a number of listed buildings.

Why we have conservation areas

The designation of a conservation area by the Council introduces additional planning procedures that are intended to make sure that any alterations do not detract from an area's character and appearance.

The designation of a conservation area aims to guide, not prevent, change.

In order to provide a clear and sound understanding of a conservation area's special interest and how best to manage potential change, the Council has prepared detailed character appraisals and management plans.

Living in a conservation area

Conservation areas are about preserving areas exactly as they are and preventing any further development from taking place.

They are concerned with how change should happen and where, ensuring that through the management of change, the special qualities of the conservation area are protected and enhanced.

For further information about owning a property in a conservation area, please refer to the document Living in a conservation area.

It is always advisable to contact the Planning Group if you are contemplating work on a property within a Conservation Area to ensure you know which permissions you will need.

Please note that the following information is provided as guidance only.  For further information, please see Planning, building and environment.

Pre-application enquiries
Please consult us before lodging applications or making any changes. You may contact us via planning.enquiries@southtyneside.gov.uk

Planning Permission

Article 4 directions
A number of Article 4 directions removing certain permitted development rights are in force within our conservation areas.  The Planning Group will be able to advise you whether there are any of these planning restrictions relating to your property.

Demolition in a Conservation Area
Planning permission may well be required, especially for certain types of demolition. For more information, please refer to the Planning Portal.

Listed Buildings
Any works to a listed building will normally require Listed building consent.

What we encourage
Whether or not development within a historic area or to a historic building requires formal Listed Building Consent or planning permission, we positively encourage owners and occupiers to:

• Ensure changes are sympathetic to the character of the conservation area.
• Retain original character.
• Use traditional materials.

A conservation area character appraisal is a document which sets out why the conservation area was designated and what its special architectural or historical interest is.

An appraisal contains an assessment of elements which contribute to the special interest and those which detract from it and covers issues such as:

• topography
• street patterns
• boundaries
• the historical development of the area
• archaeological significance
• common building materials
• open spaces
• quality
• relationship of buildings and trees

The purpose of a character appraisal

Character appraisals are prepared in accordance with the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and guidance from Historic England.

They are prepared before a conservation area is designated and form part of the designation process. 

All residents and businesses within the conservation area, plus ward Councillors, Historic England, local amenity groups and any major developers, are given the opportunity to read and comment on the character appraisal when they are being formulated or reviewed.

The appraisals are adopted by the Planning Committee as planning guidance for use within the Development Management process, to help inform planning decisions.

South Tyneside's conservation area character appraisals 

• Cleadon Conservation Area Character Appraisal (March 2007) (PDF) [9MB]
• Cleadon Hills Conservation Area Character Appraisal (March 2007) (PDF) [2MB]
• East Boldon Conservation Area Character Appraisal (February 2006) (PDF) [15MB]
• Hebburn Hall Conservation Area Character Appraisal (August 2007 (PDF) [7MB]
• Mariners' Cottages Conservation Area Character Appraisal (August 2006) (PDF) [769KB]
• Mill Dam Conservation Area Character Appraisal (September 2006) (PDF) [6MB]
• Monkton Conservation Area Character Appraisal (March 2006) (PDF) [1MB]
• St. Paul's Conservation Area Character Appraisal (September 2006) (PDF) [5MB]
• West Boldon Conservation Area Character Appraisal (March 2006) (PDF) [6MB]
• Westoe Conservation Area Character Appraisal (March 2006) (PDF) [7MB]
• Whitburn Conservation Area Character Appraisal (February 2006) (PDF) [15MB]

What a management plan is

A Conservation Area Management Plan is the next step after a character appraisal.

They provide guidance through policy statements to assist in the preservation and enhancement of the conservation area.

This is a direct response to the 1990 Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act which places a duty on local planning authorities to formulate and publish proposals for the preservation and enhancement of its conservation areas.

Each management plan is based around the following objectives:

1. To establish and define the significance of the conservation area as a whole and of the individual elements found within it, such as architectural, historical, archaeological, ecological, social, industrial.
2. To assess and define the threats and opportunities within the area and how these impact on the significance of individual elements and of the conservation area as a whole.
3. To provide policy guidance to ensure that the significance of the conservation area will be maintained whilst changes occur rather than being lost or damaged and that opportunities for enhancement are maximised.

Whilst a character appraisal provides an assessment of the physical character and appearance of the conservation area, what the key issues are, what the opportunities for preservation and / or enhancement are and which elements detract from the conservation area, its overall purpose is to provide a benchmark for assessing the impact of development proposals on the character and appearance of the conservation area.

The management plan is based on those characteristics set out in the character appraisal and provides policy guidance for their preservation and / or enhancement.

Like character appraisals, management plans are also subject to rigorous and extensive public consultation prior to their adoption as supplementary planning guidance.

South Tyneside's conservation area management plans

• SPD10: Westoe Conservation Area Management Plan (August 2007) (PDF) [3MB]
• SPD11: West Boldon Conservation Area Management Plan (August 2007) (PDF) [3MB]
• SPD12: Whitburn Conservation Area Management Plan (August 2007) (PDF) [15MB]
• SPD13: St. Paul's Conservation Area Management Plan (August 2007) (PDF) [9MB]
• SPD14: Cleadon Conservation Area Management Plan (April 2009) (PDF) [4MB]
• SPD15: East Boldon Conservation Area Management Plan (April 2009) (PDF) [2MB]
• SPD16: Hebburn Hall Conservation Area Management Plan (April 2009) (PDF) [2MB]
• SPD17: Monkton Conservation Area Management Plan (March 2010) (PDF) [2MB]
• SPD18: Cleadon Hills Conservation Area Management Plan (April 2009) (PDF) [1MB]
• SPD19: Mill Dam Conservation Area Management Plan (March 2010) (PDF) [2MB]
• SPD20: Mariners' Cottages Conservation Area Management Plan (March 2010) (PDF) [1MB]

We are now reviewing our Local Development Framework in the form of a new style Local Plan.

As part of this process, we are also reviewing our conservation area character appraisals and management plans to provide more up to date information that will help inform development proposals. 

New development in conservation areas requires careful management to ensure new buildings are recognisably of their age whilst understanding and respecting history and context in design and character.

New buildings or alterations and extensions to existing buildings within conservation areas must be of a high quality design.

Proposals must be compatible with the special characteristics of the conservation area in which it is located, its buildings, spaces and settings, land uses, scale, form and materials.

Where original materials and designs exist, the effect on the building and its neighbours should be considered before introducing alternative designs.

If this is not done the resulting mixture of styles and materials can lead to a decline in the quality of the character of both the property and the area.

The use of non-traditional materials will only be acceptable in a conservation area where they form part of an integrated design of high quality and are not considered to harm the appearance or character of that area.

New developments within conservation areas may also have had their permitted development rights restricted in order to control future development and thereby preserve the character or appearance of the area.

A local authority may also use its general planning powers to serve a Section 215 Notice on the owner (or occupier) of any land or building whose condition is adversely affecting the amenity of the area, particularly within a conservation area.

Such a notice requires the person responsible to clean up the site or building, or the local authority can carry out the work itself and reclaim the cost from the owner.

Section 215 is a relatively straightforward power that can deliver important, substantial and lasting improvements to amenity.

Local authorities are actively encouraged to use these powers where necessary.

Trees in conservation areas are subject to special protection.

Some trees have special status through Tree Preservation Orders, which means that you must get permission from the Local Planning Authority before they can be cut down, topped or lopped.

If you want to prune or remove trees that are in a conservation area, you will need to tell the Local Planning Authority (LPA) 6 weeks before any works. This can be done using the Planning Portal or by completing the tree works application form and submitting it to the Planning team.

The purpose of this requirement is to give the LPA an opportunity to consider bringing the tree under their general control by issuing a tree preservation order.

View our map of the conservation areas in South Tyneside.

If you need specific advice on whether a tree is protected you should contact the Tree Team on 0191 424 7336.

Where buildings are left in an underused and poor condition, there are some powers available to seek to remedy the situation.  It should be noted that these powers carry a financial risk to councils, which is why they are seldom used.

An Urgent Works Notice is served under section 54 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended, and can be served on a vacant (or vacant parts of a) listed building where works are urgently necessary for the preservation of a listed building.

In exceptional circumstance there are special powers available to the Secretary of State to authorise the use of these powers to an unlisted building in a conservation area where the preservation of the building is important for maintaining the character or appearance of the area (section 76 of the above Act). The works that can be implemented include:

• Making the building weather tight.
• Making the building safe from structural collapse.
• Preventing unauthorised entry, vandalism or theft.

The council must serve a notice giving the details of what is required, 7-days before it intends to enter to implement the works. There is no appeal against this Notice.

Upon completion of the works, under section 55 of the above act, Notice may be served on the owner of the building requiring repayment of the costs incurred during the works to the building. The owner does have a period of 28-days to appeal against this Notice however, on the following grounds:

• Some or all of the works were unnecessary.
• Temporary works have continued for an unreasonable length of time.
• The amounts were unreasonable.
• Recovery would cause hardship.