Conservation areas are areas of special architectural or historic interest whose character or appearance it is considered important to preserve or enhance.

The conservation areas guide explains what it means to live in a conservation area and shows the location of the four conservation areas in Barking and Dagenham.

Conservation areas guide non technical summary (PDF, 801.93 KB)

Guide to the Barking town centre conservation area (PDF, 4.7MB)

Maps of conservation areas

The borough’s conservation areas are set out in the maps below. Alternatively, you can see them in the interactive proposals map.

Abbey and Barking Town Centre Conservation Area Map (PDF, 3.7MB)

Abbey Road Riverside Conservation Area Map (PDF, 854KB)

Chadwell Heath Anti-aircraft Gun Site Conservation Area Map (PDF, 857KB)

Dagenham Village Conservation Area Map (PDF, 896KB)

Conservation area appraisals 

Conservation area appraisals were prepared and adopted following a review of the conservation areas in the borough. They can be downloaded.

Abbey Road Riverside Conservation Area Appraisal (PDF, 2.28 MB)

Chadwell Heath Anti-aircraft Gun Site Conservation Area Appraisal (PDF, 1.02 MB)

Dagenham Village Conservation Area Appraisal (PDF, 1.45 MB)

Abbey and Barking Town Centre Conservation Area Appraisal

Introduction (PDF, 4.8MB)

Pages 25 to 48 (PDF, 4.8MB)

Pages 49 to 61 (PDF, 2.9MB)

Pages 62 to 76 (PDF, 715KMB)

Appendices (PDF, 5.9MB)

General guidance in conservation areas

The council has statutory powers to control changes within conservation areas.

Demolition of buildings

Conservation area consent is required for the demolition, in whole or part, of most buildings and structures in a conservation area. This includes walls and outhouses. If demolition is being considered, please contact us for advice.

Trees

If you wish to fell, lop or top or uproot trees within a conservation area, you must give us six weeks’ notice in writing. It is an offence to carry out the work within that period without our agreement.

Satellite dishes

You need our agreement is you want to erect a satellite dish on the chimney stack or on the roof slope or elevation fronting the road.

Design of development

We have the power to require a very high standard of design which is sympathetic to the existing environment. New development must make a positive contribution to the character of the area. We can therefore require additional information in support of any planning application, showing how the proposal will relate to the conservation area.

This can mean the submission of:

• elevations of adjacent buildings
• full details of the proposal
• examples of materials and colours

Usually only a fully detailed planning application will be considered, which should be accompanied by a design statement.

We must advertise all planning applications affecting the character of conservation areas both on site and in the local newspaper.

Alterations to roofs and cladding of buildings

Proposals to change the profile of a roof (such as inserting a dormer window) and to clad a building with a different material (such as imitation stone) requires our consent.

Listed buildings

A listed building is a building or structure which is protected because it is considered to be of special architectural or historic interest. There are two types of listed building. Designated (or statutory listed) buildings are of national significance and are protected by law. Locally listed buildings (non-designated assets) are of local significance and are identified on a formally adopted list of local heritage assets.

Statutory listed buildings

Listed buildings are included on a register called the ‘List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest’, drawn up by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. They are graded according to their significance:

• Grade I for buildings of exceptional interest
• Grade II* for particularly important buildings of more than special interest
• Grade II buildings are of special interest warranting every effort to preserve them

Barking and Dagenham has 45 listed buildings and structures on the statutory list, which you can download below. They are protected under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990.

Statutory Listed Buildings (PDF, 1.04 MB)

Locally listed buildings

The borough also has a local list of 123 buildings of local architectural or historic interest. The list was reviewed and adopted in April 2009. Subsequently updated, it can be downloaded below.

Locally Listed Buildings (PDF, 5.12 MB)

Scheduled Ancient Monument

A Scheduled Ancient Monument is a nationally important archaeological site, ranging from prehistoric standing stones and burial mounds, to a medieval castle or a historic church.

The site of Barking Abbey is Barking and Dagenham’s only Scheduled Ancient Monument. It includes the ruins of the Abbey and most of Abbey Green.

Planning Policy

Town Hall, 1 Town Square, Barking IG11 7LU

planningpolicy@lbbd.gov.uk