About the St. Michael's Hill and Christmas Steps Conservation Area
The St. Michael's Hill and Christmas Steps Conservation Area covers about 12 hectares and was designated by Bristol City Council in 1974. Inside the boundary are 93 listed buildings (3 Grade I, 10 Grade II*, 80 Grade II). The most significant is Colstons Almshouses Colston's Almshouses, Grade I. 1 Article 4 direction over the area removes further householder rights, on top of the conservation area limits below. 14 Tree Preservation Order records overlap the area; every other tree here still needs six weeks’ notice before work. Part of the area lies in flood zone 2, 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.
ProjectElsewhereIn St. Michael's Hill and Christmas Steps CA
- 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.
- Ashley Ward, Cabot Ward, Clifton East Ward, Cotham Ward and Lawrence Hill Ward (1999 ward boundary)Householder 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.
- Colstons Almshouses Colston's AlmshousesGrade I
- Front Wall and Gates to Colston's AlmshousesGrade I
- Red Lodge and Attached Rubble Walls and Entrance StepsGrade I
- 10, Lower Park RowGrade II*
- 23-29, St Michaels HillGrade II*
- Chapel of the Three Kings of CologneGrade II*
- Church of St Michael and Attached RailingsGrade II*
- Foster's Almshouses and attached walls, railings and gatesGrade II*
- Lunsford House and Attached Garden WallsGrade II*
- Numbers 65 and 67 and Attached Front Garden and Entrance RailingsGrade II*
- St Bartholomew's HospitalGrade II*
- The Manor House and Attached Walls, Doorway and PiersGrade II*
- Unitarian ChapelGrade II*
- 1-6, Lodge StreetGrade II
- 1, 3 and 5, Paul Street and attached front garden wallsGrade II
- 1, Host StreetGrade II
- 12, Christmas StepsGrade II
- 13 and 14, Christmas StepsGrade II
- 143, 145 and 147, St Michaels HillGrade II
- 15, Christmas StepsGrade II
- 16, Christmas StepsGrade II
- 17-20, Trenchard StreetGrade II
- 17, 18 and 19, Christmas StepsGrade II
- 20 and 21, Lower Park RowGrade II
Show all 93 listed buildings ↓All 93 listed buildings
- 20, 22 and 24, Park RowGrade II
- 20, Christmas StepsGrade II
- 21, Horfield RoadGrade II
- 21, Trenchard StreetGrade II
- 22, Lower Park RowGrade II
- 23, Horfield RoadGrade II
- 23, Lower Park RowGrade II
- 3, Christmas StepsGrade II
- 34, St Michaels HillGrade II
- 4, Christmas StepsGrade II
- 42, St Michaels HillGrade II
- 5, Christmas StepsGrade II
- 52, Colston StreetGrade II
- 53, St Michaels HillGrade II
- 54 and 56, Colston StreetGrade II
- 58 and 60, Colston StreetGrade II
- 6 and 7 Christmas StepsGrade II
- 62, Colston StreetGrade II
- 64, Colston StreetGrade II
- 66, Colston StreetGrade II
- 68 and 70, Colston StreetGrade II
- 84 and 86, St Michaels HillGrade II
- 96a and 100, St Michaels HillGrade II
- Bengough's Almshouses and Attached Walls, Railings, BalustradesGrade II
- Bristol BeaconGrade II
- Camden HouseGrade II
- Chapel HouseGrade II
- Former Sugar RefineryGrade II
- Four Flights of Steps, Niches Flanking Top Flight and PlaqueGrade II
- Four Gas Lamp Posts in Courtyard of Bengough's AlmshousesGrade II
- Front and South Side Walls and Arch to Royal Hospital For Sick ChildrenGrade II
- Grantham HouseGrade II
- Ivy Gate, North East of Royal Fort HouseGrade II
- King William HouseGrade II
- Number 114 and Attached Front Area RailingsGrade II
- Number 12 and Attached Wall and RailiningsGrade II
- Number 44 and Attached Front Area RailingsGrade II
- Number 46 and Attached Front Area RailingsGrade II
- Number 48 and Attached Front Area RailingsGrade II
- Number 51 and Attached Wrought Iron RailingsGrade II
- Number 54 and Attached Front RailingsGrade II
- Number 69 and Attached Front Garden and Entrance RailingsGrade II
- Number 7 and Attached Basement RailingsGrade II
- Number 71 and Attached Front Garden and Entrance RailingsGrade II
- Numbers 1 to 6 and Attached Front Basement Area and Right Hand RailingsGrade II
- Numbers 20, 22 and 24 and Attached Walls, Piers and RailingsGrade II
- Numbers 30 and 32 and Attached Wrought Iron RailingsGrade II
- Numbers 31 to 37 (odd) Bristol University School of MedicineGrade II
- Numbers 39 and 41 and Attached Front Area RailingsGrade II
- Numbers 43 to 49 (odd) and Attached Front Area RailingsGrade II
- Numbers 50 and 52 and Attached Front Railings and GatesGrade II
- Numbers 6 to 16 (even) and Two Attached LanternsGrade II
- Numbers 61 and 63 and Attached Front Area Railings and PiersGrade II
- Numbers 88, 90 and 92 and Attached Front Area BalustradeGrade II
- Numbers 94 and 96 and Attached Front Area RailingsGrade II
- Olbury House and Attached Front RailingsGrade II
- Park Row Synagogue and Clergy HouseGrade II
- Raised Pavement, Steps, Ramps, Railings and StanchionsGrade II
- Retaining Wall, Piers and Railings to East and South East of Church of St MichaelGrade II
- Royal Hospital For Sick Children and Attached Front WallsGrade II
- St Michael's Terrace and Attached Railings and PiersGrade II
- Statue of Samuel MorleyGrade II
- Sunday School of Unitarian Chapel and Tower HouseGrade II
- The Old Rectory and Attached Rear WallGrade II
- The Robin Hood Public House and Attached Front Area RailingsGrade II
- The Sugar Loaf Public HouseGrade II
- Three Lamp PostsGrade II
- Walsall Conduits SiteGrade II
- White Bear Public HouseGrade II
Streets in the conservation area
Streets with listed buildings inside the boundary. Boundaries often split a street — check your exact address.
Colston StreetSt Michaels HillLower Park RowHorfield RoadTrenchard StreetHost StreetLodge StreetPark Row
The council’s appraisal
WEBSt. Michael's Hill and Christmas Steps Conservation Area AppraisalBristol City 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 Bristol City Council and Historic England via planning.data.gov.uk (OGL). Guidance only — not an official council check.