About the Leigh Town Centre Conservation Area
The Leigh Town Centre Conservation Area covers about 10 hectares and was designated by Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council in 1981. Inside the boundary are 10 listed buildings (1 Grade II*, 9 Grade II). The most significant is Church of St Mary, Grade II*. 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.
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 MaryGrade II*
- Boar's Head Public HouseGrade II
- Boundary Walls, Gates and Gate Piers to South, West and East of Church of St. MaryGrade II
- Leigh Town HallGrade II
- National Westminster Bank Including Attached OfficesGrade II
- ObeliskGrade II
- Stables at the Boars Head Public HouseGrade II
- The George and DragonGrade II
- War Memorial Near Junction With Silk StreetGrade II
- Yorkshire Bank Including Yorkshire Bank Chambers Entered From Downing StreetGrade II
The council’s appraisal
WEBLeigh Town Centre Conservation Area AppraisalWigan 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 Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council and Historic England via planning.data.gov.uk (OGL). Guidance only — not an official council check.