Conservation Areas in Manchester City Council
The published Planning Data snapshot contains 34 conservation-area records for this authority.
What is a Conservation Area?
A conservation area is an area designated by the local planning authority under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as having special architectural or historic interest. The aim is to preserve and enhance the character and appearance of these areas for future generations.
Conservation areas can include town centres, historic villages, Victorian suburbs, garden estates, and even industrial heritage sites. They are not just about the buildings themselves — they also include the spaces between buildings, trees, street furniture, and the general character of the area.
Published Conservation Areas in Manchester
These names come from the government's Planning Data service. Open an available record for its official reference, then confirm the boundary and appraisal with the council.
- Albert Park, West Didsbury1 March 1988
- Albert Square1 April 1972
- Ancoats1 June 1989
- Ballbrook, Withington1 November 1991
- Blackburn Park, Didsbury1 December 1979
- Brooklands12 March 2004
- Castlefield13 October 1979
- Chorlton14 September 2005
- Chorlton Green1 July 1970
- Chorltonville1 October 1991
- Crab Lane, Higher Blackley1 December 1983
- Crumpsall Green, Crumpsall21 January 2004
- Crumpsall Lane, Crumpsall21 January 2004
- Deansgate and Peter Street26 June 1985
- Didsbury St James1 November 1970
- George Street1 June 1985
- Gore Brook Valley, Gorton22 December 1993
- Graver Lane, Newton Heath14 September 2005
- Hermitage Road, Crumpsall21 January 2004
- Northenden1 December 1981
- Old Broadway, Withington1 January 1991
- Parsonage Gardens1 June 1985
- Rushford Park, Levenshulme1 March 1986
- Shudehill1 February 1987
- Smithfield1 February 1987
- St Ann's Square29 July 1970
- St John Street4 November 1970
- St Peter's Square1 December 1973
- Stevenson Square1 February 1987
- Upper King Street4 November 1970
- Victoria Park1 March 1972
- Whalley Range1 October 1991
- Whitworth Street and Princess Street1 September 1974
- Withington1 July 1983
Coverage varies by provider and can change. Absence from this list is not proof that land is outside a conservation area; the council's map and designation documents are authoritative.
How Conservation Areas Affect Your Planning Rights
Living in a conservation area does not mean you cannot make changes to your home — but it does mean that some works which are normally permitted development will require planning permission. The following permitted development rights are removed or restricted in conservation areas:
- !Cladding the exterior of a house with stone, render, timber, plastic or tiles is not permitted development on article 2(3) land.
- !A roof enlargement cannot project beyond the plane of the principal or side roof slope where it fronts a highway.
- !Side extensions and certain two-storey extensions face tighter permitted-development limits.
- !Outbuildings at the side of a house are not permitted development on article 2(3) land.
- !Relevant demolition may require planning permission, and listed buildings have a separate consent regime.
- !You must normally give the council six weeks’ notice before specified work to trees, unless an exception applies.
- !An Article 4 direction can remove additional rights, but only for the development and area stated in the direction.
How to Check if Your Property is in a Conservation Area
- 1
Screen the postcode or UPRN
Use the PlanningScout constraints checker to look for published national conservation-area and other designation records. Treat a postcode as an area search, not an exact boundary.
Open the constraints checker → - 2
Confirm on Manchester's Planning Map
Open Manchester City Council's interactive planning or constraints map and locate the exact property or red-line site boundary.
Open Manchester council website → - 3
Read the designation and appraisal
Open the underlying Planning Data record where available, then find the council appraisal or management plan describing the area’s character and local design guidance.
Open the official dataset → - 4
Check planning history and Article 4
A planning condition or Article 4 direction can remove rights beyond the standard conservation-area restrictions. Read the actual notice and any conditions affecting the property.
Screen published Article 4 records →