Conservation Areas in City of York Council
The published Planning Data snapshot contains 35 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 York
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.
- Acomb Conservation Area1 January 1975
- Askham Bryan Conservation Area1 January 1980
- Askham Richard Conservation Area1 January 1975
- Bishopthorpe Conservation Area28 September 1989
- Central Historic Core Conservation Area1 January 1968
- Clifton (Malton Way/Shipton Road) Conservation Area1 January 1975
- Clifton Conservation Area1 January 1968
- Copmanthorpe Conservation Area1 January 1978
- Dunnington Conservation Area13 May 2004
- Elvington Conservation Area1 January 1990
- Escrick Conservation Area1 January 1992
- Fulford Road Conservation Area1 January 1975
- Fulford Village Conservation Area12 November 1998
- Haxby Conservation Area1 January 1977
- Heslington Conservation Area20 January 1969
- Heworth Green/East Parade Conservation Area1 January 1975
- Huntington Conservation Area1 January 1991
- Middlethorpe Conservation Area1 January 1975
- Murton Conservation Area4 October 2005
- Nestle/Rowntree Conservation Area1 January 2007
- Nether Poppleton Conservation Area10 June 1993
- New Earswick Conservation Area1 January 1991
- New Walk/Terry Avenue1 January 1975
- Osbaldwick Conservation Area1 January 1978
- Skelton Conservation Area1 January 1973
- St. Paul's Square/Holgate Road Conservation Area1 January 1975
- Stockton-on-the-Forest Conservation Area3 August 1988
- Strensall Railway Buildings Conservation Area6 November 2001
- Strensall Village Conservation Area1 January 1979
- Tadcaster Road Conservation Area1 January 1975
- The Racecourse and Terry's Factory Conservation Area1 January 1975
- The Retreat1 January 1975
- Towthorpe Village Conservation Area6 November 2001
- Upper Poppleton Conservation Area1 January 1993
- Wheldrake Conservation Area1 January 1979
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 York's Planning Map
Open City of York Council's interactive planning or constraints map and locate the exact property or red-line site boundary.
Open York 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 →