Conservation areas
Conservation Areas are created by Local Authorities ('Councils'). They are areas of special architectural or historical interest, the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance.
There are 16 conservation areas in the London Borough of Barnet.
Special controls apply to buildings in Conservation Areas. It is an offence to demolish, alter or extend a building in a Conservation Area without the appropriate consent. In many conservation areas certain permitted development rights have been removed which limits the work which can be carried out without planning permission.
If you want to alter a listed building, either internally or externally, in a way that affects its character as a building of special interest, you must first obtain Listed Building Consent.
Trees in conservation areas are protected by law. In general it is an offence to cut down, lop, uproot, wilfully damage or destroy a protected tree without the planning authority’s permission.
Conservation Area Consent
Conservation Area Consent, is required for the demolition, or part demolition, of an unlisted building within a conservation area. This provision seeks to preserve and enhance the character of the Borough's conservation areas by retaining buildings which make a positive contribution to the area. These controls relate to any 'building' that is situated within a conservation area as well as some gates, fences, walls and railings.
You can apply online via the Planning Portal.
Please view our guidance notes for applications for Listed Building or Conservation Area Consent 
(PDF 204 KB)
Character appraisal statements
Conservation areas are "areas of special architectural or historic interest, the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance." Local planning authorities are required by law to keep them under review and to produce surveys and proposal maps.
Character Appraisal Statements relating to many of Barnet’s conservation areas have been produced. They include information to explain and justify the conservation area status and are a material consideration for making planning decisions in the area, and provide the groundwork for future policies.
A character appraisal statement includes:
- a description of the area’s historical development
- an assessment of the key characteristics which make it special
- details of its buildings and open spaces.
- management proposals arising from the survey work which identify current issues and initiatives for the preservation and enhancement of the conservation area.
View Character Appraisal Statements
These documents are in PDF format (Information about downloading PDFs)
- Finchley Church End (PDF 4.1MB) Map showing boundary change (PDF 617KB)
- Cricklewood, Railway Terraces (PDF 124 KB)
- Glenhill Close (PDF 673 KB)
- Golders Green Town Centre Updated August 2011 (PDF 5MB)
- Hampstead Garden Suburb, The Bishop’s Avenue (PDF 123KB)
- Mill Hill (PDF 3.42MB)
- Monken Hadley.(PDF 3.26MB)
- Totteridge (PDF 3.23MB)
- Watling Estate (PDF 2.35MB)
- Wood Street (PDF 1MB)
Hampstead Garden Suburb - Character Appraisals - Adopted October 2010
For specialist advise or if you wish to know if you live in a conservation area, please use the contact details opposite. Alternatively, please visit the Unitary Development Plan electronic map
Although not covered by individual Conservation Area Appraisals the other Conservation Areas are:
- Finchley Garden Village
- Finchley College Farm
- Hampstead Village - Heath Passage
- Hendon - The Burroughs
- Hendon - Church End
- Moss Hall Crescent
Email this pageLast modified by: Sean Johnson on 07/12/2011