About the Town Centre Conservation Area
The Town Centre Conservation Area covers about 34 hectares and was designated by Blackpool Borough Council in 1984. Inside the boundary are 20 listed buildings (1 Grade I, 4 Grade II*, 15 Grade II). The most significant is Tower Buildings, Grade I. 1 Article 4 direction over the area removes further householder rights, on top of the conservation area limits below. Part of the area lies in flood zone 3, so an extension may need a flood risk assessment.
What changes inside the conservation area
Conservation areas are “Article 2(3) land”. You keep most permitted development rights, but these are removed or tightened.
- Rear extensionElsewhere: 3 m · 6 m with PANo 6 m / 8 m prior approval
- Two-storey extensionElsewhere: 3 mNeeds planning permission
- Side extensionElsewhere: Half the widthNeeds planning permission
- Loft conversionElsewhere: 50 m³Needs planning permission
- Garden roomElsewhere: 2.5 m high by boundariesNot beside the house
- PorchElsewhere: 3 m²Same limits
- Solar panelsElsewhere: 0.2 m projectionSame limits
- Air source heat pumpElsewhere: 1 unitNot facing the road
- Fences, walls and gatesElsewhere: 2 m · 1 m by a roadSame limits
- External claddingElsewhere: Matching materialsNeeds planning permission
- Tree workElsewhere: No notice6 weeks’ notice to the council
- Demolition (over 115 m³)Elsewhere: AllowedNeeds planning permission
Limits for a semi-detached house under the GPDO 2015. An Article 4 direction can remove more.
Article 4 directions here
These overlap the conservation area. Householder directions remove more of the rights above; change-of-use ones don’t affect extending a house.
- Article 4 Direction - C3 to C4 HMOChange of use
- Article 4 Direction - PromenadeHouseholder works
Listed buildings in the conservation area
Any work affecting these needs listed building consent, inside or out. Each links to its entry on the National Heritage List.
- Tower BuildingsGrade I
- Blackpool War MemorialGrade II*
- Church of the Sacred HeartGrade II*
- Grand TheatreGrade II*
- The Winter GardensGrade II*
- Central Library and Grundy Art GalleryGrade II
- Church of St JohnGrade II
- Clifton HotelGrade II
- General Post Office (front Range Only)Grade II
- Group of Eight K6 Telephone Kiosks Outside Head Post OfficeGrade II
- K6 KioskGrade II
- K6 KioskGrade II
- K6 KioskGrade II
- North PierGrade II
- Odeon CinemaGrade II
- The former Regent Picture HouseGrade II
- Town HallGrade II
- Two shelters on Princess Parade, BlackpoolGrade II
- Two shelters on Princess Parade, BlackpoolGrade II
- Two shelters on Princess Parade, BlackpoolGrade II
The council’s appraisal
WEBTown Centre Conservation Area AppraisalBlackpool Borough Council’s description of the area’s character — what planners look at when you apply.Open on council site ↗Nearby conservation areas
Boundary and listed buildings from Blackpool Borough Council and Historic England via planning.data.gov.uk (OGL). Guidance only — not an official council check.