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About conservation areas

Conservation areas are defined as "areas of special architectural or historic interest, the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance". They can be an area with; a link to an industry or individual, a particular style of architecture, a quality public realm or high number of listed buildings, scheduled monuments.

Conservation areas are designated by the council under section 69 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990.

Section 71 of the same Act places a duty on the local planning authority to prepare and publish proposals for the preservation and enhancement of conservation areas (character appraisals and management plans) and should be done so in consultation with the public.

Designation as a conservation area introduces controls over the types of developments which can take place in the area such as property alterations, demolition and the felling or pruning of trees. For more information please see our ‘Check if you need planning permission' page.

If you are looking for a particular document and it isn’t listed below, email us at conservation2@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk.

List of conservation areas

Beetham

Biggar Village

Biggar Village is situated on the eastern coast of Walney Island, within Westmorland and Furness. The settlement retains a distinct rural character, separated from the urban expansion of Barrow-in-Furness. Its coastal position and historic association with Furness Abbey give it a unique sense of place.

The first mention of a settlement here was in 1292 as a monastic grange belonging to Furness Abbey. The village is a historic agricultural settlement with land patterns and farmsteads still evident. It has a tight grain of development around a grid pattern of narrow lanes with buildings fronting on to the roadside.

For a small village there is a relatively high number of designated grade II listed buildings. These are a mixture of 17th and 18th century buildings all with later additions/alterations. They are predominantly agricultural buildings but also include the C17th Queens Arms public house. Another significant historic feature is Biggar Dyke, a 16th century coastal defence.

Burton in Kendal

Cartmel

Church Brough

The central part of Church Brough was designated as a conservation area on 18 November 1969.

Church Brough lies in the Eden Valley at the foot of the Pennines on a former Roman road. The houses stand around a market square decorated with a maypole which has been erected on the remains of the former market cross.

There are a handful of designated listed buildings/structures located within the village and conservation area one of which is the Parish Church of St Michael's built in 1150. There is also the Brough Castle and Brough (Verteris) Roman fort and civil settlement located on the edge of the medieval village which is a Scheduled Monument.

Church Brough Conservation Area Boundary Map (816KB)

Dalton-in-Furness

There are currently no documents available for this conservation area.

Dufton

Dufton Conservation Area Character Appraisal (PDF , 2MB)

Edenhall

Edenhall Conservation Area Character Appraisal (PDF , 2MB)

Furness Abbey

Furness Abbey is situated to the north of Barrow-in-Furness, in a wooded valley (the Vale of Nightshade) along Manor Road and Abbey Approach. The area is protected by a number of heritage designations.

The Scheduled Monument includes the upstanding and buried remains of a monastery associated with the Savignac order dating 1127-47 and of a monastery associated with the Cistercian order into which the Savignac brethren were absorbed in 1147.

The Abbey itself and precinct are grade I listed buildings. Other grade I listed buildings include the ruins of the former chapel, the medieval gateway and remains of the West Gate to the abbey. Abbey House is grade II* listed. Whereas the Abbey Tavern, South Lodge, Abbotswood, Nos 1&2 West Gate Cottages, the North Lodge, West Lodge and Dunlop House are grade II listed.

The conservation area encloses the abbey ruins, associated structures, remnants of precinct boundaries, and landscape features, creating a distinctive historic site framed by mature woodland and open spaces. There are extensive panoramic views from the abbey across the landscaped parkland and woodland.

Gamblesby

The central area of Gamblesby village was designated as a conservation area on 1 December 1994.

The small village of Gamblesby lies in the foothills of the Pennines underneath the Hartside escarpment. It is situated just inside the boundary of the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The 18th century red sandstone buildings surround the small central village green. Several of the buildings are listed including the Church of St John, built in 1868 in the late 13th century style. There is a set of stocks on the village green which are probably late 17th century and were reputedly last used to punish someone who had stolen a turnip.

Gamblesby Conservation Area boundary map (PDF , 674KB)

Garrigill

Garrigill Conservation Area Character Appraisal (PDF , 2MB)

Grange-Over-Sands

Great Salkeld

Great Salkeld Character Appraisal (PDF , 2KB)

Heversham

Hunsonby

The central area of Hunsonby village was designated as a conservation area on 1 December 1994.

Hunsonby lies in the north of Eden valley on fertile farmland with the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty to the east and the River Eden, Special Area of Conservation, to the west. A small cluster of farmsteads and cottages surround a central village green. The buildings are early 17th century or late 18th century made from the local red sandstone. The two listed buildings within the village include a late 17th century cottage and an early 18th century farmhouse with adjoining barn.

Hunsonby forms a joint settlement with Winskill. In 1934 the civil parish of Hunsonby was formed from a merger of the two parishes of Hunsonby / Winskill and Little Salkeld.

Hunsonby Conservation Area boundary map (PDF , 542KB)

Ireleth

Ireleth is the historic core of the parish of Askam & Ireleth, located on a hillside overlooking the Duddon Estuary in Westmorland & Furness. The village spreads along hillside roads intersecting valleys and ridges, maintaining clear visual connections to the estuary and adjacent farmland.

Ireleth dates back to Norse settlement, positioned around Hole Beck at a crossroads of four ancient lanes (including Saves Lane, Tippins Lane, Ireleth Road), some evolving into the modern A595. It is this medieval settlement that the conservation area is centred on. The settlement has an irregular street frontage with large linear buildings positioned at different angles. Buildings are predominantly roughcast over stone with graduated slate roofs. There are some remnants of building fabric from the 17th century but the majority of buildings date from the 18th and 19th centuries.

Historic field patterns and agricultural practices remain evident surrounding the settlement retaining the village’s rural character, despite 20th century expansion on the western side towards Askham.

There are four grade II listed buildings within the village: Brookside, Low Brookside, Anvil House and Brook Lea.

Kendal

Kendal Townscape Features Maps

Kendal Architectural Quality Maps

Kings Meaburn

Most of Kings Meaburn village was designated as a conservation area on 18 November 1969.

Kings Meaburn lies in the Lyvennet Valley and was thought to be an Anglo-Saxon settlement in the 7th and 8th centuries. The name is derived from "Meadburn" meaning "meadow by the stream". The River Lyvennet runs past the village and is a tributary of the River Eden and a Special Area of Conservation. There are several listed buildings in the village with architecture dating from the early 16th century to the 18th century.

Kings Meaburn Conservation Area boundary map (PDF , 782KB)

Kirkby Stephen

The central part of Kirkby Stephen town was designated as a conservation area on 27 May 1976.

Kirkby Stephen lies at the head of the Eden Valley beside the River Eden which is a Special Area of Conservation. The North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty lies to the east with the Howgills and Lune Valley fells to the south and west.

The areas surrounding Kirkby Stephen have evidence of pre-historic and roman remains but the town itself has Anglo-Saxon and Norse origins. In the church there is evidence of the town's Danish past in the form of the 'Loki Stone' (AD850), a carving of the Norse God complete with horns. During the medieval period agriculture was the basis of the towns economy. A weekly market was granted in 1353 and the town flourished. The town was later known for its wool manufacture as well as brewing and tanning. As with many towns the coming of the railways brought prosperity and a population rise. The town was at its height in the early 20th century but like many places has felt the effects of closing railways and the decline in the agricultural industry. The town today relies on passing trade and tourism.

The town has a range of individual or terraced buildings in various styles but the majority of buildings date from the 18th and 19th centuries. Buildings are constructed of local materials. The majority are of stone but render, pebbledash and stucco also feature and sandstone is used for surrounds and decoration. The majority of roofs have Westmorland green or grey slate coverings and stone copings and kneelers are a common feature. There are surviving traditional timber sash windows but many have been replaced with uPVC. There are many listed buildings in the town mostly centred in the Market Place, Market Street and the Grade II* listed Church of St Stephen.

Kirkby Stephen Conservation Area boundary map (PDF , 1MB)

Kirkby Lonsdale

Kirkoswald

Kirkoswald Conservation Area Character Appraisal (PDF 2.3MB / 56 pages)

Milburn

The central part of Milburn village was designated as a conservation area on 8 May 1975.

Milburn nestles at the eastern edge of the Eden Valley, within the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The village lies at the foot of Cross Fell, the highest mountain in the Pennine range. Its buildings, mainly of sandstone, are arranged around the wide village green in a fortified layout with access only at the four corners. In lawless times this layout made it more easily defendable from marauders. Animals could be herded onto the green between the safety of the houses and the road could be gated. The area is predominated by farming and the village green has been used as common land for centuries with many residents still retaining grazing rights. There is a small number of designated listed buildings of 18th and 19th century origin within the village and conservation area.

Milburn Conservation Area boundary map (PDF , 690KB)

Milnthorpe

Newland Furnace

North Scale

North Scale is a historic village on Walney Island, located north of Barrow-in-Furness. It occupies a slightly elevated position near the island’s eastern shore, with open views across the channel and strong visual links to surrounding marshland and coastal landscapes.

North Scale is one of Walney’s oldest settlements and was historically the agricultural hub for the Furness Abbey estate, with remnants of early field systems and boundary walls still visible. The village developed around a network of lanes and farmsteads. The historic settlement has a linear pattern with buildings arranged along a main lane interspersed with farmyards and open plots. Buildings are predominantly painted roughcast over stone with stone rubble outbuildings, graduated slate roofs and a vernacular character.

The conservation area includes the southern end of the present-day village which is the historic settlement as shown on the earlier Ordnance Survey maps before the late 20th century expansion to the north. Listed buildings include houses, farmhouses and associated outbuildings of 17th and 18th century origin.

North Vickerstown

North Vickerstown lies on the eastern side of Walney Island, forming part of the planned settlement developed in the early 20th century. It occupies a flat coastal plain with strong visual links to the Walney Channel and Barrow docks, giving it a distinctive industrial and maritime backdrop. It was built between 1900-1915 as a model village by Vickers Ltd to house shipyard workers.

The mass grid of wide streets is home to uniform terraced housing fronting the road to back of pavement line but some with small front courtyard gardens bounded by stone or brick walls. The housing is interjected with terraces of small local shops. The buildings are predominantly rendered or roughcast with either slate or red tile roofs, plain window and door surrounds and some feature red brick for architectural detailing. Dormer windows are a common feature of the roofscape.

The southern end of the conservation area includes Vickerstown Park, a large recreational green space.

There are no listed buildings within the conservation area.

Penrith

Penrith Conservation Area Character Appraisal (PDF , 3MB)

Penrith New Streets

The area of Penrith known as Penrith New Streets was designated as a conservation area on 20 August 1992.

This Conservation Area includes the residential area of Penrith to the north-east of the town centre, known locally as "New Streets". The steeply sloping streets run uphill towards Beacon Edge, away from the town centre Conservation Area which it adjoins. The area is characterized by 19th and 20th century housing ranging from tightly knit terraces to larger semi-detached and detached villas. The houses are mostly of red sandstone under pitched natural slate roofs. The buildings possess elegant architectural detailing such as arched doorways, bay windows, stone mullions, large stone chimney stacks and decorative eaves, all enclosed by a variety of sandstone boundary walls. The layout, architectural design and materials, along with the mature gardens and open spaces all create an attractive environment as well as a visual record of the historic and social development of Penrith.

Penrith New Streets Conservation Area boundary map (PDF , 2KB)

Settle to Carlisle Railway

The area covered by the Settle to Carlisle Railway line and building was designated as a conservation area on 20 June 1991.

The Settle to Carlisle line is one of the most scenic railway journeys in England. It forged a strategic link between London, the Midlands and Scotland. The Midland Railway Company began construction on the line in 1869 and it took 7 years to complete. Approximately 6,000 men worked on the line. It was the last main line railway in England constructed almost wholly by hand. The line follows the natural pathways through the hills of the Pennines. There are 14 tunnels and over 20 viaducts. It opened to passengers on the 1 May 1876. There were two attempts to close it, in the 1960s and the 1980s, both causing local and national outrage. In 1989 the government decided the line should stay open. They made this decision after protests by the public and a rise in passenger numbers.

The Settle to Carlisle Railway is testimony to a great age of endeavour. Striking buildings and trackside structures enhance the engineering achievements of the line. This comprehensive development is unusual, most of it has survived intact. It portrays an exceptional, complete picture of resolute Victorian enterprise and social welfare. The buildings are unique and have a special relationship with each other. This relationship also includes the surrounding landscape. It represents a group value, acknowledged by the creation of a Conservation Area.

The Settle-Carlisle Railway Development Company have set uniform standards of restoration and maintenance for stations along the line, which can be found their Settle-Carlisle Railway Design Guide.

The Settle to Carlisle Railway is remarkable both in its engineering achievements and its unique design. The line passes through the tough terrain of the North Pennine foothills and the lush Eden valley floor. It uses lofty viaducts and bridges to traverse open valleys and cross rivers. Several tunnels have been blasted through the limestone and sandstone rock of the Eden valley. The line and its thoughtfully designed station buildings, workers houses and trackside structures form a comprehensive development giving a complete picture of Victorian enterprise and social welfare. Their distinctive design along with their relationship to each other and the stunning setting, represents a group value now acknowledged by the Settle-Carlisle Conservation Area.

Settle to Carlisle Railway Conservation Area boundary map (PDF , 2MB)

Skirwith

Skirwith Conservation Area Character Appraisal (PDF , 2MB)

St George’s Square

St George’s Square is located in Barrow-in-Furness, forming a civic space on the edge of the historic town centre.

The conservation area includes a triangular square off the corner of Salthouse Road and The Strand which runs adjacent to Cavendish Dock. The area developed in the 19th century under the influence of the Furness Railway Company. The area has a grid street pattern with larger plots around the Church of St George featuring large former commercial buildings such as a bank and Railwaymen’s club. This has created an open character compared to the streets of tight knit terraced housing that envelops the area. However, the open character has to an extent been reduced by the modern infill housing developments. There are also some derelict buildings in need of repair and redevelopment. As a result, the conservation area is listed as being in poor condition on Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register.

For a small conservation area there is a considerable number of grade II listed buildings.

South Vickerstown

South Vickerstown lies on the eastern side of Walney Island, forming the southern part of the planned settlement developed in the early 20th century. It occupies a flat coastal plain with views to the Walney Channel and Barrow docks, giving it a distinctive industrial and maritime backdrop. It was built between 1900-1915 as a model village by Vickers Ltd to house shipyard workers.

The mass grid of wide streets is home to uniform terraced housing fronting the road to back of pavement line but some with small front courtyard gardens bounded by stone or brick walls or low garden fences. The housing is interjected with terraces of small local shops. The buildings are predominantly rendered or roughcast with either slate or red tile roofs, plain window and door surrounds and some feature red brick for architectural detailing. Other features include bay windows, decorative bargeboards and porches. Pitched roofs and dormer windows are a common feature of the roofscape.

There is one grade II listed building within the conservation area, the Old School House which is dated 1856.

Temple Sowerby

Temple Sowerby Conservation Area Character Appraisal (PDF , 2MB)

The Green Lindal

The Lindal Green Conservation Area is located at the heart of Lindal-in-Furness, a historic village in Westmorland & Furness. The conservation area is centred on the large village green, which forms the focal point of the settlement and is surrounded by historic buildings and mature trees, creating a strong sense of enclosure and rural character. Lindal developed as an agricultural settlement and later expanded during the 18th and 19th centuries due to iron ore mining in the Furness district. There are some surviving C17th farm buildings reflective of the earlier agricultural settlement but the majority of buildings are of 19th century origin including public buildings such as the church and village hall. Limestone is the predominant building material with some use of render and red sandstone but sandstone is mainly used for surrounds and architectural details. There is a high concentration of grade II listed buildings for a small conservation area.

Ulverston

Conservation areas in National Parks

The Lake District National Park Authority is responsible for Conservation Areas in the Lake District National Park.

The Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority is responsible for Conservation Areas in the Yorkshire Dales National Park.