Fulwood Conservation Area

Summary of Special Interest

• It was Preston's first suburb originally developed from the mid-Victorian period.
• It is an early example of a "Freehold Land Society" estate.
• It includes one of the finest examples of a nineteenth century army barracks.
• A surviving workhouse originally known as Preston Union Workhouse along Watling Street Road is a surviving model of social care and reform from the mid -19th century.
• The Nooklands Estate is a small-scale development of Victorian villa residences and their grounds that survives largely unaltered.
• There are good examples of Edwardian domestic architecture on Highgate Avenue.
• The quality of architecture is high with impressive attention to detail, unique features and a high standard of workmanship and materials including timber sliding sash windows, bay windows, timber panelled doors with decorative glazing, decorative bargeboards, ornate chimneys and distinctive porch features.
• There is visual harmony resulting from the use of a restrained palette of traditional building materials.
• Steeply pitched roofs, turrets and chimney stacks are characteristic features throughout.
• There is a well-balanced relationship between scale, height and massing in the street scene including both traditional and later 20th century properties.
• Traditional craftsmanship and techniques are embodied in the distinctive architectural features.
• The original use of the area is largely unchanged and it therefore retains its residential and domestic sense of place.
• The consistent building line creates a formal relationship between buildings and the street. The defined built edges including pavements and high boundary walls make it evident where the private space ends and the public space begins.
• There are high quality open spaces including front and rear gardens with a wealth of greenery and foliage.
• Eaves Brook and the allotments run along the southern boundary of the conservation area and add a green, open space between the houses and Blackpool Road.
• The tree lined avenues, streets and roads throughout the area add greenery and attractiveness contrasting with the built environment.
• Boundary treatment is a key feature and generally includes low walls and foliage and properties tend to have both vehicular and pedestrian entrances.
• There is a spacious, formal layout between properties and the street.
• Views unfold along Higher and Lower Bank Road and parts of Victoria Road as these roads are winding and narrow compared with the wider Watling Street Road where views are long, straight and clear.
• The arrangement of building plots is distinct and the buildings within the plots are positioned in a regular manner, often successfully addressing junctions and corner plots making this a significant positive aspect of the area's character.

Designated: 2008 (The Fulwood Conservation Area is comprised of the former Watling Street Road and Nooklands Conservation Areas)

Area: 100 Ha.

Article 4: An Article 4 Direction has now been made for the Fulwood Conservation Area.

Fulwood Conservation area Article 4 (PDF) [3MB]  and the plan of Fulwood Conservation area showing area of Article 4 Direction (PDF) [670KB] , can be downloaded here.

Conservation area appraisal

Section 69 (2) of the Act imposes a duty on local authorities to review their conservation areas from time to time and Section 71 requires local authorities to formulate and publish proposals for the preservation and enhancement of conservation areas.

Fulwood Conservation area appraisal (PDF) [2MB] was updated in January 2018. report to Cabinet members on new fees for Fulwood Conservation area appraisal (PDF) [128KB] was submitted to Cabinet Members for approval. 

There is provision within the legislation for owners or occupiers of properties affected by the direction to make representations to the City Council concerning its scope, in terms of the types of development that require consent, and also the boundary of the area covered by the Direction.

Google Maps

You can download a PDF version of Fulwood Conservation Area boundary map (PDF) [776KB] here.