What is a conservation area?
A conservation area is a place with special architectural or historic interest. Its character and appearance are protected by law.
This is set out in the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990.
There are 29 conservation areas in Birmingham. They include:
- The Jewellery Quarter – home to Birmingham's largest surviving group of Victorian and early 20th century jewellery workshops
- Bournville Village – an internationally recognised model village dating from the late 19th century
We decide if an area should be given conservation area status, based on extensive research and consultation with people living, and owning property, in the area.
Our aim
We aim to preserve important buildings in conservation areas.
We make sure that any development maintains or improves the special character of those areas.
For more information, read our Regeneration through Conservation Strategy.
What we can do
We have powers under planning law which can help us achieve our aim. These include powers to:
- control development
- control demolition
- protect trees
- control advertisements
- carry out urgent work to preserve any vacant unlisted building that has fallen into serious disrepair, and recover costs from the owner
Page last updated: 2 June 2026
