Conservation

To protect archaeological sites for future generations, the most valuable of them can be "scheduled". This system gives legal protection to nationally important sites in England by placing them on a list or schedule.

Historic England identifies sites in England. These should be placed on the schedule by the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. A schedule has been kept since 1882. The current legislation is the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. This act supports a formal system of Scheduled Monument Consent for any work to a designated monument.

For more about this, visit: Historic England - Scheduled Monuments.

Scheduled Monument Consent

A monument which has been scheduled is protected against disturbance or unlicensed metal detecting. The Secretary of State must be informed about any work which might affect a monument above or below ground. Historic England advises the Government on each application.

The Secretary of State will:

• access each application;
• and try to make sure that damage done to protected sites is kept to a minimum.

Written consent must always be obtained before any work can begin.

Applications are administered by Historic England. Find out more at: Historic England - Scheduled Monument Consent.

Note: Some development may also need planning permission.

Criminal Offences

It is against the law to:

• Disturb a scheduled monument by carrying out works without consent;
• cause reckless or deliberate damage;
• use a metal detector or remove an object found with one without a Section 42 Licence from Historic England.

Conviction for these offences can lead to fines.

Ancient Monuments in Calderdale

A variety of sites within Calderdale have been designated as scheduled ancient monuments.

For more about these sites, visit: Register of ancient monuments .

All local planning authorities have a statutory duty to designate conservation areas.

These are areas of special architectural or historic interest. Of which, the character or appearance is desirable to preserve or enhance.

Find out more at: Historic England - Conservation areas.

There are special controls and requirements that apply in conservation areas to protect their character. This does not mean that there will be no new developments or alterations to existing buildings. It is recognised that places must be able to adapt to current needs through correctly managed change. We have a duty to make sure that any change:

• Increases how attractive these areas are;
• or does no harm to their special qualities.

Do you want to make alterations to a property, demolish a building or fell a tree in a conservation area? Please see: Do I need planning permission and will I get it?

Conservation areas in Calderdale

Area	Date from	Document
Akroydon	15th December 1976	Akroydon(PDF 648KB)
Copley	18th October 1983	Copley(PDF 1MB)
Elland	25th February 1992, extended 25th October 2010	Elland(PDF 2.3MB)
Halifax Town Centre	23rd October 1974, extended 21st January 1981	Halifax Town Centre(PDF 984KB)
Hebden Bridge	27th July 1973, extended 25th November 1986, 25th February 1992 and 4th April 2011	Hebden Bridge(PDF 3.2MB)
Heptonstall	7th January 1971	Heptonstall(PDF 831KB)
Huddersfield Road East	Halifax: appraisal date 24th October 2005	Huddersfield Road East(PDF 2.6MB)
Luddenden	26th February 1973	Luddenden(PDF 3.5MB)
Lumbutts and Mankinholes	3rd December 1980, extended 10th March 2008	Lumbutts and Mankinholes(PDF 531KB)
Mill Bank and Cottonstones	23rd June 1976	Mill Bank and Cottonstones(PDF 822KB)
Mytholmroyd	2nd July 2001	Mytholmroyd(PDF 617KB)
Northowram Village	10th January 2011	Northowram Village(PDF 8.5MB)
People's Park	23rd September 1981	People's Park(PDF 877KB)
Ripponden	10th March 1972	Ripponden(PDF 928KB)
Savile Park	24th October 2005	Savile Park(PDF 1.5MB)
Skircoat Green	24th October 2005	Skircoat Green(PDF 1.1MB)
Sowerby Bridge	5th June 1984	Sowerby Bridge(PDF 1012KB)
Stainland	30th November 1982	Stainland(PDF 801KB)
Todmorden	1st March 1974, extended 11th April 1985 and 10th March 2008	Todmorden(PDF 946KB)
Warley	20th October 1976	Warley(PDF 1MB)
West Vale	7th August 2023	West Vale(PDF 3.5MB)

For all conservation areas in Calderdale, see: Environmental map (select 'Conservation areas' in the legend).

Controls in conservation areas

There are special controls and requirements that apply to conservation areas to protect their character, which include:

• Consent for demolishing buildings and other structures.
• New developments must be well designed, including using traditional natural materials as appropriate.
• New buildings, extensions and alterations must preserve or enhance the character of the conservation area.
• The Council must be notified six weeks before you want to fell or prune a tree(s), see: Trees and hedges.
• Permission is needed for some types of development that you may not need elsewhere, such as:
  • larger extensions;
  • dormer windows;
  • cladding external walls of a house;
  • satellite dishes facing a highway;
  • illuminated advertisements.

To find out if you need planning permission, see: Do I need planning permission and will I get it?

Historic England maintains a Register of parks and gardens of special historic interest in England.

To view the register, visit: National Heritage List for England (NHLE).

A park or garden is in the register if Historic England assess it to be of special historical interest. This includes:

• the age of its main layout and features;
• its rarity as an example of historic landscape design;
• and the quality of the landscaping.

To find out more about this, visit: Registered parks and gardens.

Do you feel a park or garden should be in the register? To nominate it, visit: How to get historic buildings or sites protected through listing .

Calderdale registered parks and gardens

Listed buildings are:

• those considered to be of special architectural or historic interest;
• recognised and protected by law.

They can also be structures, like bridges, milestones, sundials and more. For more about this, visit: Historic England - Listed Buildings.

All buildings that are listed are on the National Heritage List for England (NHLE). This states:

• Grade of listing.
• Date of listing.
• Description of the building/structure.

The list description does not give a full or exclusive record of all the features of importance. If a building is listed, the whole of the building is protected both internally and externally. Also included in the listing is:

• Any object or structure fixed to a listed building;
• or within the curtilage of the listed building.

Walls, gates and outbuildings are also subject to listed building control.

Sometimes a particular feature is not mentioned either on the exterior or interior of the building. This does not indicate that it is not of importance or that it can be removed without consent.

If a listed building (or a group of related buildings one of which is listed) is subdivided:

• All the parts remain "listed";
• even if they pass into separate ownership.

For example, a barn in the curtilage of a listed farmhouse is converted into a house. If it is sold off separate to the farmhouse, it will still be listed.

Note: All buildings and structures at an address are considered listed, unless otherwise stated.

For full details of listings and what it means, visit: Historic England: listing.

Barn conversions

Are you thinking of doing a barn conversion? Historic England have published 'A Guide to Good Practice' that covers all styles of barn.

To see this, visit: The conversion of traditional farm buildings.

How to nominate a building for listing

You can nominate a building or site for listing. For details, visit: How to get historic buildings or sites protected through listing.

You will be asked for as much detail as possible, as to why you feel it should be listed. This includes photographs, address or location, ownership, historical evidence and any current planning applications.

How does it affect my building?

Is your building listed? You will need listed building consent before doing work that affects its external or internal character. Before you start any work, you may wish to contact: Planning Services.

It is a criminal offence to do works on listed buildings without having consent from the Local Planning Authority first. (If needed).

To apply for listed building consent, see: Listed buildings.

If your home is listed, Historic England has a wide range of practical advice, visit: Historic England - Your Home.