Listed Buildings and Conservation Area
Conservation of the Historic Environment
The historic environment of Pembrokeshire is regulated by two separate authorities – Pembrokeshire County Council’s Planning Department (PCC) and the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority (PCNPA). To check if your building is in the National Park, please visit their website here: Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority (opens in a new tab)
Otherwise please stay on this page.
Pembrokeshire County Council’s Planning jurisdiction has a diverse historic environment containing:
- 24 Conservation Areas
- 1632 Listed Buildings
- 236 Scheduled Ancient Monuments
- 20 Historic Parks and Gardens
Conservation Areas
What is a conservation area?
A Conservation Area is defined as “an area of special architectural and historic interest, the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance” (Planning (Listed buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990).
Therefore a Conservation Area is an area designated by the Council as an area of special architectural or historic interest. The designation of a Conservation Area enables the Council to monitor and guide change and to ensure that the character of the area is protected.
Conservation Areas vary greatly in their nature and character and they contain the most historically and architecturally important and interesting parts of towns and villages. The designation of a Conservation Area is a prime means of recognising, protecting and enhancing the identity of places with special character.
There are currently 24 conservation areas designated by Pembrokeshire County Council which cover 0.53% of the County.
Conservation Area Appraisals
A Conservation Area Appraisal will be produced for each of the Conservation Areas within Pembrokeshire. This will be a document that will identify the area’s special character and local distinctiveness whilst suggesting opportunities for its care and enhancement. The document will also consist of strategies for the Conservation Area’s long term maintenance and management. Each appraisal can also be used as a tool to inform the determination of planning applications in the areas.
Public consultation will play a big part in the appraisal process. Local contribution is valued to ensure that:
- The document is a good reflection of local knowledge and experience
- It is as accurate and comprehensive as possible
- It increases and shares an understanding of an area's special character
- It ensures that everyone has a say in the management of the area
Currently the following Conservation Area Character Appraisals have been adopted:
- Pembroke Dock Conservation Area Character Appraisal
- Appendix 1 and 2 Pembroke Dock Conservation Area Maps
Development in a Conservation Area
Conservation Area designation introduces control over demolition and the strengthened controls over development with the aim of preserving and enhancing the special interest of the Conservation Area.
A Conservation Area does not result in the exclusion of all change. All applications should be supported by full detailed drawings, and where necessary detailed landscaping proposals. This enables a proper assessment of the proposal and its impact on the Conservation Area. These should be read in conjunction with the current development plan policies produced by Pembrokeshire County Council (, adopted February 2013) of which the following are particularly relevant:
Policy GN.38 - Protection and Enhancement of the Historic Environment
Apply for Conservation Area Consent (opens in a new tab)
Article 4 Directions
Under normal circumstances many alterations or additions to buildings do not require planning consent. However, where the character of a Conservation Area may be threatened by minor alterations, normal development rights can be withdrawn through what are known as Article 4 Directions.
The designation of an Article 4 Direction often means that minor alterations, such as the replacement of windows and doors, construction of porches, even exterior painting, may require consent. This helps to ensure that details which contribute to the special character of a particular Conservation Area are protected and that any alterations are sympathetically carried out.
An Article 4 Direction for parts of Pembroke Dock Conservation Area has been in place since the 30th October 2008, the details of the direction are enclosed below.
Article Four Direction – Pembroke Dock
An Article 4 Direction for parts of Haverfordwest Conservation Area has been in place since the 2nd November 2009, the details of the direction are enclosed below.
Article Four Direction – Haverfordwest
If you require further information about any of the Conservation Areas in Pembrokeshire please contact us at the Conservation Team:
Article 4(2) Directions for parts of Goodwick and parts of Lower Town Fishguard have been in place since 29 February 2016. The details of the Directions are below.
Historic Landscapes, Parks and Gardens
The Cadw/ICOMOS Register of Landscapes, Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in Wales
Wales has a rich inheritance of historic parks and gardens. They form an important and integral part of the historic and cultural fabric of the country. Helping owners with their care and protection is one of the core responsibilities of Cadw (opens in a new tab).
Starting in 1992, Cadw has undertaken a comprehensive survey of historic parks and gardens in Wales. Parks and gardens thought to be of national importance have been included on the Cadw/ICOMOS Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in Wales. The Register was compiled in order to aid the informed conservation of historic parks and gardens by owners, local planning authorities, developers, statutory bodies and all concerned with them. It is non-statutory and has been issued in six volumes, covering former county council areas and unitary authorities. It was completed in 2002 but is not a closed list: sites can be added (or subtracted) at any time. There are currently 372 sites on the Register.
The methodology used for the compilation of the Register has aimed to be as thorough as possible. Each site is carefully surveyed and researched, its history analysed and written up, together with a site description, for the Register. A map, showing the site’s present-day park, garden and kitchen garden boundaries (where relevant), significant views and essential setting, is included. Sites are graded I, II* and II in the same way as listed buildings. In choosing sites for the Register many factors are taken into account: the date of the site; its state of preservation; whether it is a good example of its type; whether it was worked on by known designers; whether it is associated with persons of note and whether it is unusual or rare in any way.
There are 20 Historic Parks and Gardens in Pembrokeshire and among these are the popular Orielton, Castell Malgwyn , Lamphey Bishop’s Palace and Lamphey Court and Ffynone.
Protection and planning
Cadw can help with the protection of historic parks and gardens through advice to local planning authorities on planning applications affecting registered sites. The aim is to prevent damage to significant features of the sites, such as historic layout, structure, built features and planted elements. It is not the intention to preserve everything as it is; in fact, in many cases development is both benign and beneficial. However, it is important not to let insensitive development harm the historic and visual character of historic parks and gardens and consultation on planning applications is a necessary and helpful mechanism to try to prevent this.
Existing planning and listed building controls are not affected by the Register but statutory consultation on planning applications affecting parks and gardens on the Register is in the process of being introduced in Wales. All applications will be referred to the Garden History Society and those graded I and II* will also be referred to Cadw. In the mean time a similar but voluntary system of consultation is in place.
Policies in the Joint Unitary Development Plan (JUDP) relating to Landscapes and Historic Parks and Gardens are as follows:
Policy 85 – Historic Landscapes
Policy 86 – Historic Parks and Garden
New policies relating to Landscape and Historic Parks and Gardens within Pembrokeshire County will replace the existing policies upon the adoption of the emerging Local Development Plan.
Listed Buildings
Where can I find listed buildings advice?
I want to undertake work to my Listed Building, do I need Listed Building Consent?
How do I submit an application for Listed Building Consent, and what do I need to submit?
What is a Listed Building?
A building is listed to ensure that its special architectural or historical importance is fully recognised.
Listing protects the whole building both inside and out and in some cases extends to adjacent properties.
The main purpose of listing is to manage changes to the building, which would affect its character or setting as a building of special architectural or historic interest.
Listing Grades
Listed Buildings are classified in grades to show their relative importance. These grades are as follows:
- Grade I – Buildings of exceptional, usually national, interest. There are currently less than 2% Grade I Listed Buildings in Wales, some of these are in Pembrokeshire;
- Grade II* - Particularly important buildings of more than just special interest;
- Grade II – Buildings of special interest, which warrant every effort being made to preserve them;
- Grade III – Buildings of local interest.
- Ungraded - Buildings of local interest
Is my building listed?
Listed building records for Pembrokeshire are held within the national listed buildings database held by Cadw. Search the Cadw database interactive map (opens in a new tab)
Where can I find listed buildings advice?
Listed Building advice can be found on Cadw’s website (opens in a new tab)
I want to undertake work to my Listed Building, do I need Listed Building Consent?
The table below sets out the typical scenarios when listed building consent is needed.
Works to Listed buildings - When do I need Listed building consent and planning permission
The works |
Is Listed building consent needed? |
Is planning permission needed? |
| Like for like repairs to timber windows and doors. | No | No |
| Like for like replacement of timber windows and doors. | No | No |
| Replacement of single glazed windows/doors with double glazed units. | Yes | No, unless subject to an Article 4 direction. |
| Exterior re-painting with no colour change. | No | No |
| Exterior repainting with change of colour. | Yes | No, unless subject to an Article 4 direction. |
| Like for like repairs to exterior walls | No | No |
| Like for like repairs to roof covering. | No | No |
| Change to roof covering material. | Yes | Yes |
| Like for like repairs to Rainwater gutters and pipes. | No | No |
| Changes to rainwater gutters and pipes. | Yes | No, unless subject to an Article 4 direction. |
| Alterations to roofs e.g. dormers or roof lights. | Yes | No, unless subject to an Article 4 direction. |
| Like for like repairs to interior joinery and plasterwork. | Sometimes (Grade I) | No |
| Interior repainting with no colour change. | No | No |
| Interior re-painting in different colour scheme. | Sometimes (Grade I) | No |
| Partial or full demolition of building (including boundary walls and outbuildings.) | Yes | Submit Prior Notification of Demolition to the Local Authority. |
| Internal alterations | Yes | No |
| External alterations | Yes | Sometimes |
| Extensions. | Yes | Yes |
| The attachment of an advertisement. | Yes | Advertisement consent needed. |
How do I submit an application for Listed Building Consent, and what do I need to submit?
Applications for listed building consent are submitted through Planning Applications Wales (open in a new tab)
We advise that you appoint a competent Architect, Surveyor or Heritage Planning Consultant with prior listed building experience to compile and submit all the information needed for the Listed Building Consent Application. The amount of detailed information needed will vary from proposal to proposal but an application will generally require the following:
Listed Building Consent Validation Checklist/Requirements
Standard Application Form (all applications will need to be presented on a Standard Application Form which is available on the local authority's website and the Planning Portal website)
Questions on form must be completed:
- Applicant name and address
- Agent name and address
- Description of proposed works
- Site address details
- Related proposals
- Pre-application advice
- Neighbour and community consultation
- Authority employee / member
- Materials
- Demolition
- Listed building alterations
- Listed building grading
- Immunity from listing
- Declaration
- Completion of ownership certificate (Regulation 7 of the Planning (Listed Buildings & Conservation Area) (Wales) Regulations 2012
Plans and relevant information (Plans, drawings or information necessary to describe the works which are the subject of the application)
- Location plan
- Scale 1:1250 or 1:2500.
- North point
- Outline the application property/site with a red line.
- Draw a blue line around any other land owned by the applicant, close to or adjoining the application site.
- Show the application property/site in relation to at least two named roads and surrounding buildings where possible.
- Site Plans (existing and proposed)
- Details of existing site layout:
- Scale, typically 1:200 or appropriate scale (1:500) to ascertain required level of detail.
- North point
- Show the whole property/site, including all buildings, gardens, open spaces and car parking.
- Details of proposed site layout:
- Scale, typically 1:200 or 1:500
- North point
- Show the siting of any new building or extension, vehicular/pedestrian access, changes in levels, landscape proposals, including trees to be removed, new planting, new or altered boundary walls and fences, and new hard-surfaced open spaces.
- Show proposals in the context of adjacent buildings/environment.
- Other plans and drawings or information necessary to describe the subject of the application including:
- Existing and proposed elevations
- Scale 1:50 or 1:100 (consistent with floor plans)
- Show every elevation of a new building or extension
- For an extension or alteration, clearly distinguish existing and proposed elevations.
- Include details of material and external appearance
- Show elevations in the context of adjacent buildings, where appropriate.
- Existing and proposed floor plans
- Scale 1:50 or 1:100.
- In the case of an extension, show the floor layout of the existing building to indicate the relationship between the two, clearly indicating new work.
- In the case of minor applications it may be appropriate to combine the layout and floor plan (unless any demolition is involved).
- Include a roof plan where necessary to show a complex roof or alteration to one.
- Existing and proposed site sections and finished floor and site levels
- Scale 1:50/1:100 (consistent with floor plans), where appropriate.
- Detailed plans i.e. showing new doors, windows, shopfronts, panelling, fireplaces, plaster moulding and other decorative details, typically sections at 1:2 or 1:5 scale and elevations at 1:10 and 1:20 Scale.
Will be dependent on description of the development and what is being proposed.
Check with Conservation Officer if necessary.
Fee (No fee required)
Heritage Impact Assessment (refer to PPW TAN 24, 2017 and Cadw Guidance: Heritage Impact Assessment in Wales, 2017) / Design and Access Statement
From 1 September 2017 a Heritage Impact Statement is required to support any application for listed building consent and replaces the DAS in the application process for listed building consent.
In a small number of cases, both a DAS and a heritage impact statement may need to be submitted; for example, proposals to extend a listed building in a conservation area or World Heritage Site by the creation of floorspace of 100 square metres, or to convert a listed building to create residential development with 10 or more units.
The heritage impact assessment process should be proportionate both to the significance of the historic asset and to the degree of changes proposed.
It must include:
- a description of proposed work, including the design principles and concepts, and a schedule of works, with reference to any photographs, plans and drawings that support the consent application
- reasoning for the proposed works, which explains what you intend to achieve and why the works are desirable or necessary
- a brief description of the special architectural or historic interest of the listed building and an assessment of its significance, with particular emphasis on those aspects that will be affected by the proposals
- an assessment of the impact of the proposed work on the special architectural or historic interest of the listed building and its significance, including potential benefits and any harm
- a summary of options and the reasons for the preferred approach
A DAS (refer to Welsh Government Guidance Design and Access Statements in Wales, 2017)) for applications for Listed Building Consent must cover, as a minimum, appearance, environmental sustainability, layout and scale and should explain how the design takes account of:
- The special architecture or historic importance of the building
- The particular physical features of the building (including its architectural and/or historical significance) that justify its designation as a listed building
- The building’s setting
- It must explain the policy or approach adopted in relation to access
An Owner’s responsibility
If you are the owner of a Listed Building or come into possession of one, you are tasked with ensuring that the property is maintained in a reasonable state of repair. All the information you require is contained within Pembrokeshire County Council’s Listed Buildings – Advice to Property Owners Leaflet. Please follow the link to obtain information regarding Listed Building Consent, unauthorized works, repairs and grants.
Remember: It is a criminal offence to carry out any unauthorised works to a statutory listed building without first acquiring the necessary Listed Building Consent.
Building’s at Risk Survey
A Building’s at Risk Survey has recently been conducted in Pembrokeshire. Each listed building in the County has now been assessed and given a score for their condition. This will help our conservation team to identify find out those listed buildings that are vulnerable and need to be targeted for restoration or repair.
Grants
Grants for the repair of buildings of outstanding historic or architectural interest - usually those listed Grade I or II* - and for works to buildings in conservation areas, may be available from Cadw .
Recently nine historic buildings in Wales have received a grant sum of £385,247 from Welsh Assembly Government to help fund vital repairs. Among those awarded grants are the land around Foley House, a Grade II* Listed Building in Haverfordwest, receiving a total of £75,000, along with the South Sea Wall in Pembroke which has received a total of £7,500. These grants will ensure that some of our most important historic buildings are maintained for the enjoyment of future generations. Work is already underway to restore the land around Foley House, Haverfordwest.
Scheduled Ancient Monuments
The County Council holds a list of Scheduled Ancient Monuments in Pembrokeshire.
Dyfed Archaeological Trust Heritage Management maintains the Historic Environment Record for southwest Wales. Currently over 43,000 sites of archaeological and historical interest are recorded.
An important function of the Dyfed Archaeological Trust is to provide local planning authorities and others engaged in development and land-use change, in both the private and public sectors, with a uniform development control service across the whole of Wales.
Cadw (the historic environment service of the Welsh Assembly Government) is the formal consultee for Pembrokeshire County Council's Planning Department with regard to any proposed works to Scheduled Ancient Monuments in the County. Cadw utilises information in the Historic Environment Record and their specialist knowledge and expertise to assess and comment on all planning applications that might adversely effect the historic environment.
The following policy is relevant to Scheduled Ancient Monuments in Pembrokeshire:
Policy GN.38 Protection and Enhancement of the Historic Environment
Pembrokeshire County Council uses the advice from both Cadw and Dyfed Archaeological Trust to assess the potential impact of development on the heritage, so trying to ensure that damage is kept to a minimum.