About the Smethwick Summit Galton Valley Conservation Area
The Smethwick Summit Galton Valley Conservation Area covers about 64 hectares and was designated by Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council in 1984. Inside the boundary are 27 listed buildings (1 Grade I, 2 Grade II*, 24 Grade II). The most significant is Galton Bridge Including Attached Railway Bridge Span, Roebuck Lane Birmingham Canal Birmingham Level, Grade I. 1 Tree Preservation Order record 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.
- 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.
- CITY WIDE HMOChange of use
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.
- Galton Bridge Including Attached Railway Bridge Span, Roebuck Lane Birmingham Canal Birmingham LevelGrade I
- Engine Arm Aqueduct, Birmingham Canal Wolverhampton LevelGrade II*
- Summit BridgeGrade II*
- Bottom Lock of Three, Smethwick Locks Immediately West of Bridge Street Birmingham Canal Woverhampton LevelGrade II
- Bottom Lock, Spon Lane Locks Birmingham Canal Wolverhampton LevelGrade II
- Canal Bridge, Chance's Glassworks (approximately 160 Metres West of Spon Lane South) Birmingham Canal Birmingham LevelGrade II
- Double Range of Warehouses Immediately West of Hartley Bridge, Chance's GlassworksGrade II
- Footbridge at Junction With Birmingham Canal, Smethwick Junction (approximately 190 Metres East of Bridge Street) Birmingham Level Wolverhampton LevelGrade II
- Footbridge at Junction With Wolverhampton Level (approximately 230 Metres East of Bridge Street) Birmingham Canal Birmingham LevelGrade II
- Footbridge Over New Main Line at Bromford Junction, 20 Metres South of Bottom Lock, Spon Lane Locks Birmingham Canal Birmingham LevelGrade II
- Footbridge Over Old Main Line at Bromford Junction, (approximately 40 Metres) West of Spon Lane Locks Birmingham Canal Wolverhampton LevelGrade II
- Hartley Bridge, Chance's Glassworks (approximately 230 Metres West of Spon Lane South) Birmingham Canal Birmingham LevelGrade II
- Middle Lock of Three, Smethwick Locks (approximately 140 Metres West of Bridge Street) Birmingham Canal Wolverhampton LevelGrade II
- Middle Lock, Spon Lane Locks Birmingham Canal Wolverhampton LevelGrade II
- Premises Occupied by Archibald Kenrick and Sons (excluding Works to the East)Grade II
- Railway Bridge 15 Metres North of Summit Bridge/roebuck Lane Birmingham Canal Wolverhampton LevelGrade II
- Railway Bridge at Chance's Glassworks (approximately 160 Metres West of Spon Lane South) Birmingham Canal Birmingham LevelGrade II
- Retaining Wall to Former Corporation YardGrade II
- Smethwick New Pumping House Approximately 50 Metres North West of Brasshouse Lane Birmingham Canal Birmingham LevelGrade II
- Steward Aqueduct (approximately 400 Metres West of Spon Lane South) Birmingham Canal Wolverhampton LevelGrade II
- The Seven Storey Warehouse and Offices at Chance's GlassworksGrade II
- Top Lock of Three, Smethwick Locks, With Attached Footbridge (approximately 270 Metres West, South West of Bridge Street Birmingham Canal Wolverhampton LevelGrade II
- Top Lock, Spon Lane Locks, With Attached Footbridge Birmingham Canal Wolverhampton LevelGrade II
- Towpath Bridge at Soho Foundry (approximately 160 Metres East of Rabone Lane) Birmingham Canal Birmingham LevelGrade II
Show all 27 listed buildings ↓All 27 listed buildings
The council’s appraisal
WEBSmethwick Summit Galton Valley Conservation Area AppraisalSandwell Metropolitan 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 Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council and Historic England via planning.data.gov.uk (OGL). Guidance only — not an official council check.