About the St Michael's Conservation Area
The St Michael's Conservation Area covers about 10 hectares and was designated by Sunderland City Council in 1975. Inside the boundary are 10 listed buildings (1 Grade I, 2 Grade II*, 7 Grade II). The most significant is Church of St Michael and All Angels, 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.
- Church of St Michael and All AngelsGrade I
- Houghton Le Spring Area Offices of Sunderland District CouncilGrade II*
- Kepier Grammar SchoolGrade II*
- Arch to West of Church of St Michael and All Angels, Formerly Part of Rectory LodgesGrade II
- Gilpin HouseGrade II
- Houghton-le-Spring War MemorialGrade II
- Kepier AlmshousesGrade II
- Lilburn HouseGrade II
- The Old Mill Public HouseGrade II
- The RectoryGrade II
The council’s appraisal
WEBSt Michael's Conservation Area AppraisalSunderland 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 Sunderland City Council and Historic England via planning.data.gov.uk (OGL). Guidance only — not an official council check.