Following on from the recent designation of conservation areas in the city, on Monday 30 January 2023 the Council made Directions under Article 4.
Changes to conservation areas in Stoke-on-Trent
Following on from the recent designation of conservation areas in the city, on Monday 30 January 2023 the Council made Directions under Article 4(1) Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 in respect of 18 of the conservation areas. The Council invites representations in respect of the making of these Directions.
The areas affected are:
- Ash Green Conservation Area 2022
- Blurton Church Conservation Area 2022
- Burslem Town Centre Conservation Area 2022
- Caldon Canal Conservation Area 2022
- Dresden Conservation Area 2022
- Hanley Park Conservation Area 2022
- Hartshill Conservation Area 2022
- Longton Town Centre Conservation Area 2022
- Park Terrace Conservation Area 2022
- Penkhull Garden Village Conservation Area 2022
- Penkhull Village Conservation Area 2022
- St. Christopher Avenue Conservation Area 2022
- Stoke Town Centre Conservation Area 2022
- The Villas Conservation Area 2022
- Tower Square Conservation Area 2022
- Trent and Mersey Canal Conservation Area 2022
- Victoria Park, Tunstall Conservation Area 2022
- Victoria Road, Fenton Conservation Area 2022
The Directions, including plans of the affected areas, can be viewed at the Civic Centre reception (address below) during normal opening times. Full details of the Directions affecting each of the areas will be available to view on the Stoke on Trent City Council website from 30th January 2023 at Conservation Areas and Article 4 Directions | Stoke-on-Trent by clicking on ‘Article 4 Directions’. They will be available until Tuesday 21 February 2023.
The new Article 4 Directions remain similar to those currently in force but take account of the revised minor boundary changes and the amalgamation of two conservation areas into one (Victoria Road, Fenton).
If the Article 4 Directions are confirmed, they will come into force on 23 March 2023.
Having an Article 4 Direction in force with respect to a particular type of development does not mean that such development is not allowed. Instead, it means that an application for planning permission for said development must be made to the Local Planning Authority when it normally would not.
Councillor Daniel Jellyman, cabinet member for regeneration, infrastructure and heritage said: “The Council is taking steps to preserve, protect and repurpose its treasured heritage assets to enable a more sustainable future for the city’s historic environment. Conservation areas; Article 4 Directions; investment in heritage-led projects and the potential formation of a Stoke-on-Trent Heritage Trust are all ways in which we can achieve these ambitions, contributing to Stoke-on-Trent’s unique, rich, and vibrant cultural identity.”
Councillor Jellyman continues: “Stoke-on-Trent has a unique, rich, and vibrant cultural identity and heritage which sets the city apart from other places – regionally and nationally. Heritage is arguably one of the strongest elements of the city’s current cultural offer.”
“A key aim of the trust will be to create opportunities for unlocking the wider benefits of the city’s rich and varied history – strengthening ties between the towns and communities – and contributing to the city’s levelling-up efforts.”
This activity builds on the solid foundations that will be at the heart of establishing a heritage trust for Stoke-on-Trent. A model that can bring together local/national heritage stakeholders, private developers, and heritage property owners to work across the city
- The City Council held its first Heritage Congress on 15 June 2022
- Following-on from the inaugural meeting, the intention will be to formalise a partnership working group of key cultural/heritage stakeholders and networks
- As part of a scoping study, research has been undertaken in relation to examples of good practices for charitable
- Drawing together the findings from the scoping review, two preferred charitable governance models are now being considered by Cabinet shortly
Major steps in heritage preservation are already underway, with £1.8m invested into the refurbishment of the Longton Town Hall, including the creation of a new council local centre. Repairs to the chimney at the Phoenix Works with the aid of Historic England’s Heritage at Risk grant.
Future-proofing the city’s bottle ovens, with historical surveys and the creation of the Longton Heritage Colour Palette and access to artist design advice consultations for local business owners.
Representations can be made in writing between 30 January 2023 to 4pm on 21 February 2023. Please make any representations for the attention of Andrew Powell, Local Plan Coordinator via email at planning.policy@stoke.gov.uk or by letter to
Effect of an Article 4 Direction
Article 3 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 grants automatic planning permissions to certain types of developments. An Article 4 Direction, removes these permitted development rights. The Article 4 Directions are proposed in order to assist the Council in preserving and retaining features within an area that contribute to its distinctive character and appearance and which help to protect local amenities and the well-being of the area. By introducing additional planning controls, the Article 4 Directions both facilitate the management of proposed development within certain conservation areas and protect against changes that would prove detrimental to the preservation of their character and appearance.
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