King's Parade © Cambridge 2000
Part of our remit is to identify areas of 'special architectural or historic interest' that makes them worth protecting and improving.
What makes these areas special might be the buildings, open spaces, trees, or a mixture of these and other features.
Cambridge has 11 conservation areas at present, and new areas might be added in the future.
Consultations on possible new areas or changes to existing areas will be listed in our consultations pages.
Appraisals
Conservation area appraisal documents contain guidance to protect the best features of the area, and to improve the less attractive parts.
Where appraisals have been written, they are available to download from the relevant page.
Development
The special character of conservation areas means that the development is controlled more strictly than in other areas.
Read more on the development in conservation areas page.
Our conservation areas
Brooklands conservation area
Brooklands Avenue
Brooklands conservation area forms a southward extension of the Newtown sector of the Central conservation area.
Much of the area is bounded by Clarendon Road, Fitzwilliam Road, the western edge of the tree belt along Shaftesbury Road and by Brooklands Avenue. Brooklands House and Empty Common to the west are also included.
The area was designated a conservation area on 3 May 2002.
Central conservation area
Jesus Green footbridge and lock
Central conservation area is the largest conservation area in Cambridge.
It covers the historic core of the city, open spaces including the college backs, Jesus Green, Midsummer Common and the Botanic Garden, and the housing areas west of the railway line.
It is gradually being split into smaller areas, such as the Kite and the Mill Road Area; for more information you can read the Historic Core appraisal.
The Central conservation area was designated on 25 February 1969 and has since been extended on 16 January 1975, 30 November 1976, 21 March 1978, 19 February 1980, 29 May 1991, 9 June 1993 and 18 July 1996. The area was extended again on the 21st June 2011 to include Romsey, Brookside and Burnside.
Chesterton conservation area
Chapel Street, Chesterton
Chesterton conservation area covers the old part of Chesterton village around Chapel Lane, Church Street (including the recreation ground) and High Street.
The conservation area was designated on 25 February 1969 and extended on 23 June 2009.
Conduit Head Road conservation area
Conduit Head Road
Conduit Head Road conservation area includes the distinctive 1930s buildings in their attractive gardens which stand along Conduit Head Road, and some buildings along Madingley Road.
The conservation area was designated on 17 December 1984 and extended on 6 October 2009.
De Freville conservation area
Ferry Path
De Freville conservation area abuts the Central conservation area north of the river Cam.
It is based on the original De Freville Estate which was laid out in 1890, and includes older streets to the east up to and including part of Victoria Avenue.
The conservation area was designated on 3 March 2009.
Ferry Lane conservation area
Garden of the Green Dragon pub, Water Street, Chesterton
Ferry Lane conservation area (previously called Water Street conservation area) is the smallest of the city's conservation areas.
It includes the south west end of Water Street, and stretches south to the river.
The Ferry Lane conservation area was designated on 25 February 1969 and extended on 23 June 2009.
Newnham Croft conservation area
Grantchester Street
Newnham Croft conservation area covers the streets south of Barton Road and east of Millington Road. The open space bordering the residential areas is also included.
The conservation area was designated on 8 June 1998.
Southacre conservation area
Latham Road
Southacre conservation area principally covers the large houses and gardens along Chaucer Road and Latham Road. It is bordered by the river Cam to the west and Trumpington Road to the east.
The conservation area was designated in February 2000.
Storey's Way conservation area
Storey's Way
Storey's Way conservation area covers the turn-of the-century houses on the south side of Storey's Way and the Trinity Hall sports ground.
The area was designated a conservation area on 17 December 1984 and the boundary was extended to the east on 8 April 2008.
Trumpington conservation area
Church Lane, Trumpington
Trumpington conservation area includes the historic part of the village around the church and Anstey Hall, and includes the north end of the High Street, Church Lane, Maris Lane and part of Grantchester Road.
The Trumpington conservation area was designated on 25 February 1969 and extended on 2 July 1998. It has subsequently been extended on the 5 October 2010.
West Cambridge conservation area
Grange Road
West Cambridge conservation area lies to the west of the Central conservation area.
It includes the large houses and colleges from Lady Margaret Road in the north, to Millington Road in the south. The boundary stretches as far west as the Emmanuel Sports Ground on Wilberforce Road.
The conservation area was designated on 3 May 1972 and was extended on 17 December 1984. It has recently been extended again on the 15 March 2011 with another addition on the 9th May 2011. The last extension was to include Wolfson College, Barton Close and adjacent properties in Barton Road.
Historical documents
The links below are to previous conservation area appraisals that have since been re-appraised and more current appraisals produced. The newer documents are available on the Trumpington conservation area tab and the Central conservation area tab above.
The previous appraisals may be of interest locally, though are no longer a material consideration within the planning application process.
