Conservation areas

Councils must designate areas of special architectural or historic interest. This is where it is desirable to preserve or enhance the character of the area.

We do this with conservation areas in the historic parts of towns and villages. There are currently 31 of these in our district. 

Conservation areas in the district are found in city centres through to rural hamlets.

A conservation area preserves the whole character of the area, not just an individual building. This character may be made up of:

• buildings
• spaces between buildings
• views
• paving materials
• trees and boundary features

Designation brings with it a number of controls including:

• control over the demolition of buildings
• strengthened controls over minor development
• special provision for the protection of trees

Conservation area maps show the location of the conservation areas within the Wakefield district. 

The 31 conservation areas in the Wakefield District are listed. Where an area has an adopted conservation area appraisal, these can be accessed by clicking the relevant hyperlink.

The conservation areas in the Wakefield District are:

• Badsworth    
• Castleford    
• Cathedral, Wakefield
• Chapelthorpe    
• Felkirk and Hodroyd (part 1) - Felkirk and Hodroyd (part 2) 
• Friarwood and Button Park
• Heath    
• High Ackworth    
• Horbury (part 1) - Horbury (part 2)
• Kirkthorpe    
• Knottingley    
• Lower Westgate, Wakefield
• Newmillerdam    
• Normanton    
• Ossett (part 1) - Ossett (part 2)
• Pontefract Castle
• Pontefract Market Place
• Sandal castle
• South Parade, Wakefield
• St Johns, Wakefield
• The Mount, Pontefract
• Upper Westgate, Wakefield
• Wakefield Waterfront    
• Wentbridge    
• Wentworth Terrace, Wakefield
• West Bretton    
• Whitwood    
• Wood St, Wakefield (part 1) - Wood St, Wakefield (part 2)
• Woolley Home Farm    
• Woolley Village    
• Wragby    

Further information

Historical maps and photographs can also be accessed through our Historical maps page.

The Article 4 Directions PDF document explains about Article 4 directions which apply in some Conservation Areas (Heath, St Johns and Whitwood Terrace)

Properties affected by Article 4 designation PDF

If a tree is located in a Conservation Area, you would need prior consent from the Council to fell or prune it. Please see the details about applying to carry out works to trees within a Conservation Area .