Historic Areas

Conservation Areas

Sandwell has nine conservation areas which have significant elements of architectural and historic interest. 

  • Church Square, Oldbury 
  • Market Place, Wednesbury 
  • Smethwick, Galton Valley 
  • Factory Locks, Tipton 
  • High Street, West Bromwich 
  • Windmill End, Warrens Hall 
  • Smethwick Town Centre, High Street 
  • High Street and Crocketts Lane, Smethwick 
  • Cape Hill Town Centre, Smethwick 

View and download the conservation area reports and boundary plans

Planning permission is required within conservation areas for works to alter or demolish a building. In addition, six weeks notice must be given to the council prior to any works being carried out to trees.

Article 4 Directions cover some of the residential properties within High Street, West Bromwich Conservation Area and numbers 4 to 32 Bearwood Road, Smethwick within the High Street and Crocketts Lane, Smethwick Conservation Area. Under the directions, any works that change the external appearance of a building may require planning permission. In deciding whether to grant planning permission the council has a duty to protect the historic character of the area.

Black Country Historic Landscape Characterisation Study

Historic landscape characterisation is a method used in planning to assess and understand the distinctive characteristics and evolution of a landscape over time.

A Landscape Characterisation Study was produced on behalf of the Black Country authorities in 2019.

View and download the Black Country Historic Landscape Characterisation Study