Home / Conservation areas / Bristol City Council
South WestConservation areas in Bristol City Council
34 conservation areas and 16 Article 4 directions on the official register. If your property is in one, extensions, lofts, cladding, outbuildings and demolition follow stricter rules.
Conservation areas
Arnos Vale
Designated 1996 · ref. CA30
Rules & recordAshley Down
Designated 1998 · ref. CA31
Rules & recordAvon Valley
Designated 1981 · ref. CA24
Rules & recordBedminster
Designated 1981 · ref. CA25
Rules & recordBishopsworth and Malago
Designated 1998 · ref. CA32
Rules & recordBower Ashton
Designated 1981 · ref. CA26
Rules & recordBrentry
Designated 1988 · ref. CA29
Rules & recordBrislington
Designated 1986 · ref. CA28
Rules & recordCity and Queen Square
Designated 1972 · ref. CA4
Rules & recordCity Docks
Designated 1979 · ref. CA17
Rules & recordClifton
Designated 1972 · ref. CA5
Rules & recordCollege Green
Designated 1975 · ref. CA11
Rules & recordCotham and Redland
Designated 1981 · ref. CA18
Rules & recordGloucester Road
Designated 2011 · ref. CA33
Rules & recordHenbury
Designated 1970 · ref. CA1
Rules & recordKingsdown
Designated 1973 · ref. CA6
Rules & recordKingsweston and Trym Valley
Designated 1981 · ref. CA22
Rules & recordMontpelier
Designated 1978 · ref. CA15
Rules & recordOld Market
Designated 1979 · ref. CA16
Rules & recordPark Street and Brandon Hill
Designated 1975 · ref. CA10
Rules & recordPortland and Brunswick Square
Designated 1974 · ref. CA8
Rules & recordRedcliffe
Designated 1976 · ref. CA13
Rules & recordSea Mills
Designated 1981 · ref. CA21
Rules & recordShirehampton
Designated 1975 · ref. CA7
Rules & recordSilverthorne Lane
Official record · ref. CA34
Rules & recordSneyd Park
Designated 1981 · ref. CA23
Rules & recordSt. James' Parade
Designated 1982 · ref. CA27
Rules & recordSt. Michael's Hill and Christmas Steps
Designated 1974 · ref. CA9
Rules & recordStapleton and Frome Valley
Designated 1972 · ref. CA3
Rules & recordStokes Croft
Designated 1980 · ref. CA19
Rules & recordThe Downs
Designated 1981 · ref. CA20
Rules & recordTyndall's Park
Designated 1981 · ref. CA14
Rules & recordWestbury-on-Trym
Designated 1971 · ref. CA2
Rules & recordWhiteladies Road
Designated 1976 · ref. CA12
Rules & recordWhat a conservation area changes
Extensions
Side extensions, and rear extensions of more than one storey, are not permitted development — they need planning permission. Single-storey rear extensions keep their normal limits, but the Larger Home Extension prior-approval route is not available.
Lofts and roofs
Roof extensions such as dormers are not permitted development. Rooflights are usually fine if they don't project more than 15 cm.
Cladding
Cladding the outside of a house in stone, artificial stone, pebble dash, render, timber, plastic or tiles needs planning permission.
Outbuildings
Garden rooms, sheds and other outbuildings to the side of the house need planning permission.
Demolition
Demolishing a building larger than 115 m³ needs planning permission. Taking down a wall, gate or fence over 1 m high next to a road (or 2 m elsewhere) also needs permission.
Trees
You must give the council six weeks' notice before cutting down or pruning most trees (trunk over 7.5 cm across at 1.5 m high), even if they are not protected by a tree preservation order.
Article 4 directions
Councils can remove more permitted development rights — for example for windows, doors, porches or front boundaries — with an Article 4 direction. Check the council's list below.
Article 4 directions in Bristol City Council
These remove some permitted development rights in the areas they cover — check whether one applies to your property before you rely on permitted development.
- 1-34 West Mall (30 April 1974)
- 1-42 Caledonia Place (30 April 1974)
- Article 4 Avonmouth Village (29 June 2020)
- Article 4 East (29 June 2020)
- Article 4 North (29 June 2020)
- Article 4 South (29 June 2020)
- Ashley Ward, Cabot Ward, Clifton East Ward, Cotham Ward and Lawrence Hill Ward (1999 ward boundary) (11 December 2011)
- Clifton Ward (1999 ward boundary) (21 October 2012)
- Cornwallis Crescent (30 April 1974)
- Cotham and Redland (3 November 2011)
- Grove Wood (9 November 2009)
- Henbury (22 September 1971)
- Henleaze (1 May 2023)
- Land at Sherrin Way (27 July 1981)
- Redland Ward (1999 ward boundary) (21 October 2012)
- Royal York Crescent (30 April 1974)
Conservation area and Article 4 data: planning.data.gov.uk. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Always confirm boundaries and rules with the council before starting work. General information, not legal advice.