Harrogate Borough Council

Designated by the Council, Conservation Areas are concerned mainly with the man-made environment and are usually built-up areas (conservation regarding the natural environment is dealt with elswhere on our website).  Conservation Area designation gives an area more protection against "insensitive" development or redevelopment.  Conservation Areas range from the large part of the Victorian centre of Harrogate town, 512 hectares (ha) to small rural hamlets like Middlesmoor (2 ha) and the model villages of Ripley (16 ha) and Baldersby St James (3 ha). 

 

*Harrogate District has 52 Conservation Areas, each originally with a 'Designation Statement' (leaflets based on the Statement were published in 1995 and can be downloaded from white cells in the following table). The leaflet includes a brief history, architectural analysis, simplified map of the Conservation Area, details of additional controls upon development/ restoration/ renovation and potential grant assistance.  The 'map only' images of the Conservation Areas (showing listed buildings and Ancient Monuments) were created with the best information at the time of publication but should not be considered a proof of listing - buildings may be 'spot listed' at any time - so, please contact English Heritage for a definitive answer.  

 

A thorough guide (for builders/developers) relating specifically to the Control of Demolition in Conservation Areas was produced by the Council in January 2004. 

 

Also see our Planning Policy and Design Guidance.

 

On 9 Dec 2005, the Council made a Direction (under the General Permitted Development Order 1995) so that anyone wishing to paint any previously unpainted walling, whether stone, brick or render (or repainting walls in a different colour) in Harrogate Conservation Area* must apply for Planning permission.  This includes the principal building, any outbuildings and boundary walls.  The Direction was approved by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on 7 April 2006.  *(there are certain exclusions - commercial area of Waterloo Street/Chatsworth Road and the residential areas of High Harrogate, Wheatlands, and the western and northern parts of the Duchy Estate.)  This measure was taken to stem an increasing incidence of property owners in the Conservation Area painting their properties' facades which both the Council and Harrogate Civic Society consider to be detrimental to the building's architectural appeal and the appearance of the Conservation Area in general.  Download and read the Article 4 Direction document (1.9Mb including map).  For more information on this contact tel. (01423) 556589.