Conservation areas
Over 500 conservation areas in Wales have been designated by planning authorities under the provisions of the Historic Environment (Wales) Act 2023. Subordinate legislation provides for the detailed implementation of the Act.
Primary legislation
The Historic Environment (Wales) Act 2023
Part 4 of the Act provides the basic legislation for:
- a planning authority’s designation of an area of special architectural or historic interest as a conservation area
- an authority’s duty to prepare and publish proposals from time to time for the preservation and enhancement of every conservation area in its area
- the special regard that must be given to the desirability of preserving or enhancing the character or appearance of a conservation area in the exercise of planning functions
- the requirement for conservation area consent from the planning authority for the demolition of an unlisted building in a conservation area
- urgent works to a building in a conservation area
- grants by the Welsh Ministers for the preservation or enhancement of conservation areas.
Part 5 of the Act contains further provisions that apply to listed buildings and conservation areas.
Paragraphs 590–632 of the explanatory notes for the Act cover the conservation area provisions in Part 4. Paragraphs 633–685 treat the provisions in Part 5.
Subordinate legislation
The Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas (Procedure and Interest Rate) (Wales) Regulations 2024
These regulations control a range of detailed matters relating to the application of the Historic Environment (Wales) Act 2023 including:
- the disapplication of the requirement for the demolition of certain classes of unlisted buildings in conservation areas to be authorised
- conservation area consent application requirements including heritage impact statements and certificates of ownership
- issues pertaining to applications including advertisement
- appeals against decisions of planning authorities
- the interest rate that any expenses incurred by a local authority during urgent works will attract until recovery.
A heritage impact statement is the product of a structured heritage impact assessment process. This makes sure that the significance of the historic asset is taken into account when developing proposals for change.
Visit the heritage impact assessment page for further information.
Other regulations that form part of the historic environment code may also apply to conservation areas.
The Planning (National Security Directions and Appointed Representatives) (Wales) Regulations 2006
These regulations contain procedural provisions relating to appointed representatives at inquiries at which access to evidence is restricted.
These regulations contain a procedural provision relating to publicity associated with an appeal.
The Town and Country Planning (Enforcement Notices and Appeals) (Wales) Regulations 2017
These regulations contain procedural regulations relating to appeals against enforcement notices.
The Town and Country Planning (Referred Applications and Appeals Procedure) (Wales) Regulations 2017
These regulations contain procedural provisions relating to applications referred to the Welsh Ministers and appeals.