Conservation areas are part of our local environment with special architectural or historic qualities. They are established by the council, in consultation with the local community, to help preserve and enhance the specific character of these areas for everybody.

For more information about living within a Conservation Area and advice on planning regulations please refer to the following links:

Conservation Areas

Planning Portal

Historic England

2017 saw the celebration of 50 years since the first designation of a Conservation Area. To commemorate this, the Winchester Future 50 Conservation Area pilot project was launched. Created by members of the Historic Environment Team and supported and partially funded by Historic England, the project aimed to produce a management plan for the conservation areas. Working with the local community this project would explore new ways that would allow the council to produce the plans and ensure the management of these important areas for the foreseeable future. Due to the multiple character areas which make up the conservation area within the city, two areas were chosen to demonstrate the diversity of the pilot project: the Walled Town and St Giles Hill.

Various thematic surveys were created in order to collect condition reports and recent photographs of each asset within the pilot areas. Examples of these surveys include “War Memorials”, “Listed Buildings”, “Monuments and Public Art” and “Street Scene” to name but a few can be seen via the link on the right hand side of the page. The aim of these surveys was to create a snapshot of each site and asset and to highlight any development or maintenance concerns which could then be acted upon. The information will provide valuable and accessible insight into the locally distinctive significance of the conservation area essential for

Following numerous tests, these surveys were given to a wide range of local volunteer groups. We have been fortunate to work alongside several groups who have aided us in collection the required data. These groups have included: the Winchester City Trust, students from the University of Winchester and from Winchester College as well as volunteers from the architectural firm Mace and from the Development Management team at Winchester City Council.

The information gathered by the volunteers and the team has been of high interest and has been used to create an up-to date record of each asset. These records are available to see through the new Winchester Future 50 Conservation Area Project GIS layer. This will allow the user to pin-point certain sites, understand the locally distinctive significance, to support Planning and Listed Building applications and understanding context in terms of design. It will also aid the Historic Environment Team and Planning Department in the management of these areas.

Furthermore, through this project, the Historic Environment team has been able to identity sites that will be put forward for possible future designation and the establishment of the Non-Designated Heritage Asset List and Locally Listed Heritage Assets List. Additional information on these can be found through the Non-Designated Heritage Assets and Locally Listed Heritage Asset Website.

Since the completion of the project we have created and updated the guidance on the Historic Environment and Urban Design website.

The information gathered through the various themed surveys by the volunteers of the Winchester Future 50 Conservation Area project has provided essential evidence, which is available on the side of the this page, for new and emerging strategies and guidance for the management of these special areas and the significant assets which go to make these up.

A new emerging Conservation Area Management Strategy for the two pilot areas; St Giles Hill and also a portion of The Walled Town will be available on this web page for public comment in due course.

Furthermore, we are now moving onto the next phase of the project and will be surveying additional conservation areas within the Winchester District, beginning with Hursley. The information gathered will be then included on the Winchester Future 50 GIS Map Layer.

The information gathered by volunteers throughout the Winchester Future 50 Conservation Area Pilot Project is now on display through the Winchester Future 50 Conservation Area GIS Layer, available through the link below and on the side of this page.

Winchester Future 50 Conservation Area GIS Layer 

This map layer will allow the user to view the up- to-date images and supplementary guidance in regard to the significant heritage assets identified throughout the Project. The information presented on this layer can aid in providing important background information to support Planning and Listed Building Applications Heritage Statements. For additional information on Heritage Statements, please refer to the ‘How Can I Use this Information?’ page.

For information regarding Archaeology and the Historic Environment Records click here.