About the Old Town West Conservation Area
The Old Town West Conservation Area covers about 6.8 hectares and was designated by Southampton City Council in 1972. Inside the boundary are 48 listed buildings (7 Grade I, 7 Grade II*, 34 Grade II). The most significant is Church of St Michael, 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.
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.
- 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.
- Church of St MichaelGrade I
- King John's Palace (situated to West of Tudor House Museum)Grade I
- Medieval Merchant's HouseGrade I
- Section of wall running west from Bargate to Arundel Tower and then south to point just south of Castle Water Gate. It includes Arundel Tower, Catchcold Tower, Garderobe Tower, The 40 Steps, Castle Water Gate and Castle VaultGrade I
- Sections of Wall Running South Along Esplanade From South-West Corner of Simnel Street to University Air Squadron Headquarters at South End of Bugle Street. Includes the Arcades, The West Gate, Blue Anchor Postern and Biddles Gate Town WallsGrade I
- The Wool HouseGrade I
- Tudor House MuseumGrade I
- 11 and 13, Bugle StreetGrade II*
- 48, Bugle StreetGrade II*
- 49, Bugle StreetGrade II*
- Bugle HouseGrade II*
- Southampton Castle Wall Running From Forest View to Castle LaneGrade II*
- The UndercroftGrade II*
- Tudor Merchants HallGrade II*
- 1 and 3, Bugle StreetGrade II
- 11, St Michael's SquareGrade II
- 1a, Bugle StreetGrade II
- 2 Carved Stone Pedestals in the Grounds of Tudor House MuseumGrade II
- 38-42, Bugle StreetGrade II
- 4, St Michael's SquareGrade II
- 43, Bugle StreetGrade II
- 45, Bugle StreetGrade II
- 47, Bugle StreetGrade II
- 5, St Michael's SquareGrade II
Show all 48 listed buildings ↓All 48 listed buildings
- 51, Bugle StreetGrade II
- 59, Bugle StreetGrade II
- 8, Bugle StreetGrade II
- 8, Westgate StreetGrade II
- 88 and 90, French StreetGrade II
- 9 and 10, Westgate StreetGrade II
- Archway From St Denys Priory, In the Grounds of Tudor House Museum, Situated to South of the Rear Wall of King John's PalaceGrade II
- Church of St JosephGrade II
- County CourtGrade II
- Drinking FountainGrade II
- East End Wall to County BuildingsGrade II
- Gas LampGrade II
- Horse TroughGrade II
- Lansdowne House, including the cellar which forms part of the basement flat to Cerberus House, and the attached railingsGrade II
- No 8 and Vault UnderneathGrade II
- Pair of K6 Telephone Kiosks, Castle WayGrade II
- Pilgrim Fathers' MemorialGrade II
- Remains of C15 House, Later Corn StoreGrade II
- St Michael's Parish HallGrade II
- The Duke of Wellington Public HouseGrade II
- The Royal Standard InnGrade II
- Vaults and Remains Adjoining Nos 4 and 5Grade II
- Vaults Between Nos 11 and 15Grade II
- Vaults Under Nos 46 and 48Grade 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
WEBOld Town West Conservation Area AppraisalSouthampton 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 Southampton City Council and Historic England via planning.data.gov.uk (OGL). Guidance only — not an official council check.