About conservation areas
Conservation areas are areas of special architectural or historical interest.
They have extra planning controls so any changes to them can be managed.
Designation of conservation areas for 2025
We’re working on the designation of conservation areas for 2025. The first area proposed to be considered is St Aubin.
Find out more information at the RNLI Christmas market and coffee morning.
- Saturday 16 November
- St Brelade Parish Hall
- 9.30am to 1.30pm
We want to find out what you think is special about St Aubin, and discuss what it may mean for you.
If you can’t make it, or you would like to find out more, email conservationareas@gov.je.
Other areas for future consideration include:
- the historic areas of St Helier
- the areas around the Parish churches of:
- Grouville
- St. Lawrence
- St. Martin
- Trinity
- St Ouen
- St Peter
- St Clement
- Gorey Village and pier
- Rozel Harbour
Extra planning controls in conservation areas
The objective of a conservation area isn’t to stop change, it’s to manage change and protect the special qualities of the place so that it can be enjoyed now and into the future.
You may need to apply to carry out work or changes in conservation areas, particularly if the work is in public view. This applies to all land and buildings in conservation areas, including those that are not listed and not considered to be historic.
Managing change in conservation areas
Listed buildings and places in conservation areas
If an area is designated as a conservation area it will have no effect on the designation of listed buildings and places that are in it or the management of change to them.
The current regulation for all grades of listed buildings and places, will still apply.
Planning application costs in conservation areas
There is no extra planning fee for work requiring permission in conservation areas. If the work you are carrying out usually requires planning permission, normal planning application fees apply.
Value of property in conservation areas
This is not a specific planning consideration and there is currently no data about this in Jersey. There is some evidence from England to suggest that properties in conservation areas attract a slight premium.
Conservation area guidance
Each designated area has its own planning guidance called a conservation area appraisal and management plan.
This describes what is special about the area and provides advice about how the character and appearance of the area can be protected and improved.
It provides guidance about opportunities to deliver positive change and how best to manage different forms of development, for example, household extensions and changes to shopfronts. It will aim to identify future changes to public infrastructure, such as sea defences, roads and other public realm improvements, and how these might be managed.
Grants
There are currently no grant schemes for conservation areas, but funding opportunities will be explored.
The Historic Environment Team are available to give advice to property owners, email historicbuildingsstaff@gov.je.
Designation process and how you can get involved
For each designated conservation the Minister for the Environment publishes a draft conservation area appraisal and management plan for the area that is being considered. This includes an assessment of the area’s special architectural or historical interest indicating why it is desirable for the character or appearance of the area to be protected and improved, and a plan setting out the proposed boundaries of the conservation area.
This is available for public scrutiny for at least 6 weeks, during which time, a public meeting will be held, and written representations about the proposed conservation area will be invited.
The Minister for the Environment will consider all the issues raised during consultation, before any designation is made.
The proposed draft St Aubin conservation area appraisal and management plan is expected to be published, for consultation, in the first quarter of 2025.
gov.je