Parks, leisure and the arts Albert Park Conservation Area

Improvement and enhancement

It is envisaged that small scale development and refurbishment will take place from time to time. The main aim of designation is to ensure that the character and quality of both the buildings and the spaces between them is retained. As with all conservation areas, attention must be paid to maintaining harmony with regard to building heights, the type and colour of materials.

The owners of properties will be encouraged to replace like for like when considering repairs to walls, roofs, windows and mouldings.

Artificial materials such as UPVC for windows or concrete for walls will not be encouraged, and the painting of brick and stone elements is considered to be inappropriate and conducive to rapid deterioration.

Walls are generally red or orange-red brick with dressings in stone, moulded brick or a contrasting colour of brick. Heavily moulded and strongly contrasting colours in terracotta or faience are reserved for the public buildings such as Withington Town Hall and Cavendish Road County Primary School.

Roofs on Albert Park houses are predominantly of blue slate and this should be used as a replacement.

Ridge tiles sometimes have decorative fins, and barge boards and eaves boards are occasionally moulded and decorated with fretwork.

In existing buildings, windows should follow the pattern of the originals they replace, almost invariably vertically proportioned with little or no subdivision of the sashes into small panes, The frames should be made from moulded timber sections in the same plane as the originals. In new development windows should be set back at least one brick depth from the front face of the wall.

Where boundary treatments are being renewed, walls, preferably matching the originals, should be constructed in stone or brick with stone copings. Advice should be sought from the South Area Team to establish whether or not planning permission is required for such work. Existing examples are approximately one metre high although further height may be achieved by adding an evergreen hedge.

Hedges without walls are acceptable in some roads; most existing hedges are privet, but other evergreen species may be planted.

Fences are inappropriate, unless they are wrought-iron structures to match wrought-iron gates. Gateposts should be replaced in stone or brick rather than concrete or timber. Each of these solutions requires less maintenance than the initially cheaper alternatives.

None of the original cast-iron street-lamp standards remain today, having been replaced with modern concrete or steel poles. An opportunity exists to recreate some of the original character of the area by replacing them with Victorian-style cast-iron columns with appropriate lanterns, provided that the levels of illumination and maintenance meet with present day requirements.

Was this page helpful?

Fields marked * cannot be left blank

Feedback submitted to us on this form is monitored but you won’t receive a reply. In an emergency, visit our emergency contact details page. Please don't include any personal or financial information, for example your National Insurance or credit card numbers.