About the Ambleside Conservation Area
The Ambleside Conservation Area covers about 41 hectares and was designated by Lake District National Park in 1980. Inside the boundary are 42 listed buildings (1 Grade I, 1 Grade II*, 40 Grade II). The most significant is Bridge House, Grade I. 59 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 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.
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.
- Bridge HouseGrade I
- Church of St MaryGrade II*
- 1-3, Smithy BrowGrade II
- 2 and 3, Bridge StreetGrade II
- 2-11, Church StreetGrade II
- 2, CheapsideGrade II
- 3 and 4, CheapsideGrade II
- 4, Bridge StreetGrade II
- 5 and 6, Bridge StreetGrade II
- Albert Moore's BarnGrade II
- Ash Tree CottageGrade II
- Ashton Cottage, Little Beck and RaesbeckGrade II
- Corbrig, Planetree HouseGrade II
- Cottage Adjoining Kirkstone Foot Cottage Kirkstone Foot Cottage Springwell CottageGrade II
- Cross BrowGrade II
- Cross in Front of the Salutation InnGrade II
- Fairview Cottage, The Cottage and Nos 3-6Grade II
- Former Friends Meeting HouseGrade II
- Ghyll SideGrade II
- Golden Rule HotelGrade II
- Lowfield With Former Cottage Adjoining to North EastGrade II
- Market Hall (occupied by Mountain Restaurant and Offices)Grade II
- Mill Cottage Mill StreamGrade II
- Miller BridgeGrade II
Show all 42 listed buildings ↓All 42 listed buildings
- No. 1 CHEAPSIDEGrade II
- No. 22 LAKE ROADGrade II
- North SykeGrade II
- North ViewGrade II
- Nos. 1-4, TOM FOLDGrade II
- Old Mill StudiosGrade II
- Old School House and Barn Attached to Old School HouseGrade II
- Old Stamp HouseGrade II
- Premises Occupied by Browns Booking OfficeGrade II
- Premises occupied by Stoneage, The Priest Hole Restaurant, OxfamGrade II
- Royal Oak HotelGrade II
- Scale How (part of Charlotte Mason College)Grade II
- St Anne's CourtGrade II
- Stock CottageGrade II
- The HavenGrade II
- The KnollGrade II
- The Nook CottageGrade II
- The Old HouseGrade II
Streets in the conservation area
Streets with listed buildings inside the boundary. Boundaries often split a street — check your exact address.
The council’s appraisal
WEBAmbleside Conservation Area AppraisalLake District National Park’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 Lake District National Park and Historic England via planning.data.gov.uk (OGL). Guidance only — not an official council check.