Conservation area character appraisals

Bristol's conservation area character appraisals and conservation area enhancement statements.

Conservation area character appraisals help residents and us to understand the history of an area and why it is special. They help shape future developments and planning policies, as well as giving residents an idea of what enhancements could be made.

We have undertaken a review of Bristol's existing conservation areas. This is through the production of a character appraisal and set of management proposals for each area.

The consultation and adoption process for each appraisal will give it enough weight to be a significant consideration in making planning decisions, and at appeal.

Conservation area enhancement statements

We also have a list of conservation area enhancement statements, which are gradually being replaced by character appraisals. 

In the meantime, you should check the enhancement statements if you can find what you’re looking for in our list of conservation area character appraisals.

Current consultations

The City Council are currently consulting the public on two draft character appraisal documents. 

• Shirehampton Conservation Area Draft Character Appraisal  (pdf, 8.7MB) (opens new window)

Comments on either document can be made by email to conservation@bristol.gov.uk 

Conservation areas and local communities

We value the specialist knowledge of local groups and greatly support working together to produce character appraisals.

Local communities have become more involved in identifying what is positive and negative about a conservation area, including unlisted buildings of merit, and helping to define boundaries.

We welcome all input into what makes an area special and what could improve an area; or more specific comment on a draft character appraisals via conservation@bristol.gov.uk

Character appraisals and the Our Place project

Finding the resources to implement the programme of Character Appraisals is challenging. If you live in a Conservation Area that does not currently have a Character Appraisal, then the City Design Group will support you in the Our Place (pdf, 3.5MB) (opens new window) project initiative.

This is a way that a local group can start the process of conservation area review, which can be used to form the basis for a Character Appraisal.

Character appraisals

• Gloucester Road (pdf, 3.5MB) (opens new window)  (adopted 4 April 2017)
• Bedminster (pdf, 3.9 MB) (opens new window) (pdf, 3.9MB) (opens new window) (adopted 12 December 2013)
• City and Queen Square (pdf, 11.8 MB) (opens new window) (pdf, 11.8MB) (opens new window) (adopted January 14 2009)
• City Docks (pdf, 4.5 MB) (opens new window) (pdf, 4.5MB) (opens new window) (adopted December 2011)
• Clifton and Hotwells (pdf, 7.4 MB) (opens new window) (pdf, 7.4MB) (opens new window) with separate maps for Clifton and Hotwells (adopted July 14 2010)
• • Clifton and Hotwells maps (pdf, 7.6 MB) (opens new window) (pdf, 7.6MB) (opens new window)
• College Green Conservation Area Character Appraisal (pdf, 5.5MB) (opens new window) (adopted 22 March 2016)
• Cotham and Redland (pdf, 12.4 MB) (opens new window) (pdf, 12.4MB) (opens new window) (adopted September 1 2011)
• Kingsdown (pdf, 4.9 MB) (opens new window) (pdf, 4.9MB) (opens new window) (adopted March 31 2008)
• Montpelier (pdf, 5.0 MB) (opens new window) (pdf, 5MB) (opens new window) (adopted January 14 2009).
• Old Market (pdf, 7.3 MB) (opens new window) (pdf, 7.3MB) (opens new window) (adopted March 31 2008)
• Portland Square (pdf, 3.3 MB) (opens new window) (pdf, 3.3MB) (opens new window) (adopted March 31 2008)
• Park Street and Brandon Hill (pdf, 4.6 MB) (opens new window) (pdf, 5.5MB) (opens new window) (adopted May 23 2011)
• Redcliffe (pdf, 7.2 MB) (opens new window) (pdf, 7.2MB) (opens new window) (adopted March 31 2008)
• Sea Mills (pdf, 5.6 MB) (opens new window) (pdf, 5.6MB) (opens new window) (adopted July 14 2010) with separate maps:
• • Sea Mills - routes and spaces map (pdf, 0.6 MB) (opens new window) (pdf, 615KB) (opens new window)
  • Sea Mills - landmark buildings map (pdf, 6.6 MB) (opens new window) (pdf, 6.6MB) (opens new window)
  • Sea Mills - garden suburb housing types map (pdf, 1.5 MB) (opens new window) (pdf, 1.5MB) (opens new window)
  • Sea Mills - relative merit of unlisted buildings (pdf, 6.5 MB) (opens new window) (pdf, 6.5MB) (opens new window)
• St James’s Parade (pdf, 2.6MB) (opens new window)
• St James Parade boundary review character appraisal (pdf, 1.1MB) (opens new window) (adopted 13 August 2018)
• St Michael's Hill and Christmas Steps (pdf, 3.7 MB) (opens new window) (pdf, 3.7MB) (opens new window) (adopted January 14 2009)
• Stokes Croft (pdf, 6.7 MB) (opens new window) (pdf, 6.7MB) (opens new window) (adopted October 12 2007)
• Westbury on Trym (pdf, 6.6 MB) (opens new window) (pdf, 6.6MB) (opens new window) (adopted July 2015)

Conservation area enhancement statements

These statements were created in 1993 to describe the character of Bristol’s conservation areas.

These are being replaced with our conservation area character appraisals, so you should check them if you can't find what you're looking for here.

• Avon Valley Conservation Area (pdf, 189KB) (opens new window)
• Bower Ashton Conservation Area (pdf, 100KB) (opens new window)  
• Brentry Conservation Area (pdf, 130KB) (opens new window)
• Brislington Conservation Area (pdf, 114KB) (opens new window)
• Henbury Conservation Area (pdf, 100KB) (opens new window)
• Kingsweston and Trym Valley Conservation Area (pdf, 210KB) (opens new window)
• Shirehampton Conservation Area (pdf, 105KB) (opens new window)  
• Sneyd Park Conservation Area (pdf, 147KB) (opens new window)
• Stapleton and Frome Valley Conservation Area (pdf, 191KB) (opens new window)
• The Downs Conservation Area (pdf, 174KB) (opens new window)
• Tyndall's Park Conservation Area (pdf, 143KB) (opens new window)
• Westbury-on-Trym Conservation Area (pdf, 137KB) (opens new window)
• Whiteladies Road Conservation Area (pdf, 168KB) (opens new window)