A conservation area in Brighton is no longer deemed 'at risk' after action was taken to protect its historical features-but others in the city are still in jeopardy.

Historic England has removed the Queen’s Park Conservation Area from its ‘at risk’ register for 2022 after Brighton and Hove City Council began taking measures to protect the area’s heritage in 2018.

Historic England is the public body that helps people care for, enjoy and celebrate England's spectacular historic environment.

It publishes its heritage at risk register annually each autumn and it is used by national and local government to identify structures and areas that are in need of protection in a bid to secure their future.

Queen's Park was designated a conservation area in 1977 and in 2020 residents were asked to comment on proposals to introduce stricter planning controls to preserve the character of properties in the area.

The proposals were drawn up in response to resident concerns which highlighted how the loss of architectural details on the front of properties was having a detrimental effect on the character and appearance of the area.

Issues included the changing traditional sash windows to UPVC, the installation of modern doors, railings and gates, the loss of front boundary walls and the painting of previously unpainted brick features.

In 2021 an Article 4 Direction was approved for the area, requiring planning permission for works to house frontages and any street-facing side elevation to stem the loss of historic features, which came into force on June 4, 2022.

Queen’s Park is one of only nine conservation areas nationally that have been removed from the register this year.

Five conservation areas in Brighton and Hove remain on the register for 2022:

•    Benfield Barn

•    East Cliff

•    Old Town

•    Sackville Gardens

•    Valley Gardens

Queen’s Park Ward councillor Clare Rainey said: “I am delighted that the work done with the local community over a number of years is protecting the heritage of the Queen’s Park area - and that this has now been recognised by Historic England.”

Councillor Martin Osborne, who co-chairs the tourism, equalities, communities and culture committee, said: “We are lucky to have so much beautiful heritage in the city. But sadly, some of these areas remain at risk.

“We are committed to reducing the number of conservation areas at risk in Brighton and Hove, but some of these areas have faced complex challenges.

“As well as the successful work in Queen’s Park, there has also been clear progress in the Old Town and Valley Gardens conservation areas. These are also moving towards a point where we could recommend their removal from the ‘at risk’ register in future years.”