Conservation Areas

Conservation Areas (CAs) are areas of special architectural or historic interest, the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance.

Ards and North Down Borough includes the following Conservation Areas:

Donaghadee: Conservation Area Guide - Donaghadee | Department for Infrastructure (infrastructure-ni.gov.uk)

Holywood: Conservation Area Guide - Holywood | Department for Infrastructure (infrastructure-ni.gov.uk)

Portaferry: Conservation Area Guide - Portaferry | Department for Infrastructure (infrastructure-ni.gov.uk)

Trees located within a Conservation Area are protected by the designation as though a Tree Preservation Order was in effect, in accordance with Section 127 of the Planning Act. If works are proposed to trees located within a CA, notification must be given to the Council 6 weeks prior to carrying out the works. If the Council considers the tree works proposed to be inappropriate or unacceptable, it may proceed to protect the trees through the serving of a TPO.

It is a criminal offence to cut down, uproot or wilfully destroy or damage, top or lop a tree protected by CA designation, without the requisite permission by the Council. On summary conviction you could be fined up to £100,000