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Conservation areas

What is a Conservation area?

A Conservation area is a part of a town that by reason of its special architectural and or historic interest is thought to merit extra safeguards.

There are a number of towns and villages within Allerdale that are designated as a conservation area.

Where are the Conservation areas?

Within Conservation areas, the council seeks to protect and enhance the character and expects special attention to be paid to design details of new developments.

Allerdale's Conservation areas were designated between 1974 and 2002:

  • Allonby (1975)
  • Blennerhasset (1981)
  • Bowness-on-Solway (1981)
  • Caldbeck (1984)
  • Cockermouth (1975)
  • Gamelsby (1981)
  • Greysouthen (1983)
  • Hayton (1981)
  • Kirkbampton (1981)
  • Maryport (1981)
  • Mawbray (1981)
  • Papcastle (1983)
  • Port Carlisle (1981)
  • St. Michaels, Workington (2002)
  • Silloth (1978)
  • Torpenhow (1981)
  • Westnewton (1981)
  • West Curthwaite (1981)
  • Wigton (1977)
  • Portland Square, Workington (1974)
  • Brow Top, Workington (1974)

Conservation areas Supplementary Planning Document

A Conservation area Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) has been prepared by Allerdale Borough Council to provide help and guidance to the public and developers when formulating proposals for development or other changes within the district's conservation areas.

The document sets out the considerations and thought processes that will be needed to achieve good design for new developments and alterations sympathetic and appropriate to the Conservation area in which it is situated.

Find out more about the Conservation area Supplementary Planning Document (SPD).

Conservation area appraisals

All conservation areas are subject to periodical appraisals to ensure that they are still fit for purpose. Appraisals have been completed on:

Alterations and extensions

Because a property is within a conservation area the scale of alterations and extensions that can be done without planning permission is reduced. Within Cockermouth, Maryport and the two Workington conservation areas this is particularly the case.

We can help you find out about applying for planning permission. .

Demolition of buildings

Demolition is development and in conservation areas consent can be required for the demolition of buildings. If you are considering demolition, you should discuss the proposal with a planning officer first .

Works to trees

Prior to doing any work to top, lop, fell, or uproot a tree in a conservation area you are first required to notify the council in order that they can assess the proposal.

Cockermouth Conservation area design guide

The Cockermouth Conservation area design guide Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) was adopted on 5 March 2008.

The purpose of the SPD is to provide those considering works that involve buildings, sites or the public realm within the Cockermouth Conservation area with instructions on how to approach issues such as improvement, maintenance and repair. Its main objective is to enable conservation to play an active part in regeneration by ensuring that change is managed in a way that sustains and enhances the built environment without overly constraining development.

Download the Cockermouth Conservation Area Design Guide

Shopfront design guides

We have designed shop-front design guides for both Cockermouth and Wigton. These are designed to help and encourage business owners to ensure that their shop fronts and signage are of a design which preserves and enhances the character of of Wigton and Cockermouth's Conservation area and contributes to the attractiveness and commercial health of the town centre. Research shows that an attractive and well used shopping centre will attract people to spend time there, even if they do not have a specific shopping objective in mind.

Download the Cockermouth Shopfront Design Guide

Download the Wigton Shopfront Design Guide

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