Commentary on Sections Part 4 — Conservation Areas
590.A conservation area is an area of special architectural or historic interest whose character or appearance it is desirable to preserve or enhance. The designation of conservation areas reflects the idea that the historic environment more generally, as well as particular buildings or monuments, warrants recognition and protection.
591.Part 4 requires planning authorities to determine which parts of their areas are of special architectural or historic interest and to designate them as conservation areas. It also places a general duty on planning authorities and others to have special regard to the desirability of preserving or enhancing the character or appearance of a conservation area in the exercise of planning functions. In addition, Part 4 makes provision for the authorisation and control of demolition in conservation areas, urgent works to preserve certain buildings in conservation areas, and the making of grants relating to the preservation or enhancement of conservation areas. The Act does not set out every way in which conservation areas are protected. For instance, trees in conservation areas enjoy some statutory protection and that is dealt with in Part 8 of the 1990 Planning Act.
592.Conservation area boundaries are regularly updated on DataMapWales although each planning authority maintains an up-to-date list of conservation areas within its area. As of April 2023, there were 528 conservation areas listed on DataMapWales.
593.The Welsh Ministers have published non-statutory, best-practice guidance, which is kept under review, to support the management of conservation areas. The guidance at the time of writing these notes, Managing Conservation Areas in Wales (2017), sets out the general guidelines for the designation and management of conservation areas.
594.Many of the listed building provisions in Part 3 of the Act also apply to conservation areas in this Part, but with some changes.