Heritage Action Zones

North Somerset Council was awarded Heritage Action Zone status by Historic England in 2017. It was one of the first places in England to receive this status. This allowed Weston to apply for and receive over £800k worth of project funding. This project ended in September 2022.

Work included:

• adopting Weston as a Conservation Area
• adopting shopfront design policy
• improving shopfronts in the town centre
• developing heritage walking routes through the town centre
• publication of the book ‘Weston-super-Mare: The Town and its Seaside Heritage’ in 2019
• development of ‘Know Your Place’, an interactive mapping project
• programming a series of major heritage exhibitions
• enhancement of three High Street buildings
• adoption of Article 4 Directions to safeguard Stone Walls in Weston

You can view a snapshot of Heritage Action Zone achievements in our summary document.

In 2020, North Somerset Council received a further £1.1m from Historic England when it was awarded High Street Heritage Action Zone status. This project ended in March 2024.

Work included:

• engaging communities with the heritage of Weston through volunteering and stakeholder initiatives
• restoring and repairing original features in historic buildings
• delivering a comprehensive public realm scheme to enhance Station Road, Walliscote Road and Alexandra Parade
• improving the exterior of retail units through the delivery of a shopfront enhancement scheme
• delivering a cultural programme, in partnership with Super Culture

Adopted in 2018, the Great Weston Conservation Area stretches from Birnbeck Pier in the north to Royal Sands in the south of Weston-super-Mare and includes the town centre.

Work included:

• developing a shopfront design guide policy for North Somerset (adopted as a supplementary planning document in September 2019)
• developing a Local Heritage List for North Somerset (adopted autumn 2021)
• developing article Article 4 Directions to remove permitted development rights on demolition of stone walls one metre or less in height

North Somerset’s shopfront design guide was produced with support from Historic England. It sets out best practice and policies to improve the quality, historic features and appearance of local streets. These improvements will make a positive impact on both retail and visitor experience.

The guide is now available for home and business owners. If you are in the Great Weston zone Conservation Area, grant opportunities are available.

Stone walls are an important part of the character and heritage of large parts of the Great Weston’s Conservation Area. In recent years many have been lost.

An Article 4 Direction ATD55 was confirmed and signed in September 2022.

The Direction requires planning permission to be granted prior to carrying out work on stone walls in the conservation area.

Other relevant documents can be access below.

A digital mapping project that is putting our neighbourhood’s heritage on the map. This interactive resource provides information on local history and properties in North Somerset.

This tour celebrates the rich and varied architectural heritage of the town and tells the story of how it grew into a busy seaside resort.

Weston has beautiful heritage walks, steeped in history. Enjoy the architecture and history and don't forget to look up. 

Blue Plaque tour

Weston-super-Mare has many commemorative blue plaques. These cover notable people such as:

• Capt George Fiott Day VC - Crimean hero who lived on Claremont Crescent
• Kathleen Thomas - the first person to swim across the channel from Penarth to Weston in just seven and a half hours in 1927, at the age of 21

Weston-super-Mare Town Council has put together a blue plaque map for Weston.