Find out about conservation areas and what you need to do if you want to develop property within one.
There are 33 conservation areas in Bristol. Conservation areas have a special character and appearance and we aim to preserve or enhance them.
A conservation area might have:
- historic road patterns, plots and boundaries
- characteristic building materials and construction techniques
- historic building uses
- green spaces
- trees and street furniture
- distinctive views
Find out if you're in a conservation area
You can see the different conservation areas of Bristol on the Know Your Place website. You can also call us on 0117 922 3000 or email conservation@bristol.gov.uk.
Planning permission in conservation areas
Conservation areas have stricter planning controls than other places, so you might need to get permission before you carry out any type of development.
Find out more about planning permission in conservation areas.
Conservation area character appraisals
We carry out character appraisals of areas to help us understand their history and what makes them special.
See a list of all current character appraisals
Conservation area policy
National policy and legislation on the protection and enhancement of conservation areas is set out in:
- the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act, 1990
- section 16 of the National Planning Policy Framework
Policies which guide decisions on development proposals in conservation areas are also contained in the Local Plan.