About the Albert Square Conservation Area
The Albert Square Conservation Area covers about 7.2 hectares and was designated by Manchester City Council in 1972. Inside the boundary are 30 listed buildings (2 Grade I, 5 Grade II*, 23 Grade II). The most significant is Albert Memorial, Grade I.
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.
- Albert MemorialGrade I
- Town HallGrade I
- Lawrence BuildingsGrade II*
- Manchester War MemorialGrade II*
- Memorial HallGrade II*
- Roman Catholic Church of St Mary (The Hidden Gem)Grade II*
- Town Hall ExtensionGrade II*
- 1-5, CENTRAL STREET (See details for further address information)Grade II
- 10, Tib LaneGrade II
- 12, Tib LaneGrade II
- 31, Princess StreetGrade II
- 65-71, Princess StreetGrade II
- Abraham Lincoln StatueGrade II
- Albert ChambersGrade II
- Brights StatueGrade II
- Carlton HouseGrade II
- City Arms Public HouseGrade II
- Electricity Junction BoxGrade II
- Electricity Junction BoxGrade II
- Frasers StatueGrade II
- Gladstone's StatueGrade II
- Heywoods StatueGrade II
- Jubilee Fountain, Albert Square, ManchesterGrade II
- Lloyds HouseGrade II
Show all 30 listed buildings ↓All 30 listed buildings
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
WEBAlbert Square Conservation Area AppraisalManchester 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 Manchester City Council and Historic England via planning.data.gov.uk (OGL). Guidance only — not an official council check.