Designated in 1995. The Conservation Area is centred on Roker Park (HER 1841), which is a Registered Historic Park. The CA displays many fine Victorian and Edwardian terraces, several buildings of note and seafront and promenade features. It covers 25.24 hectares. Until Victorian times the Roker area was mainly agricultural. Roker Terrace was built on the Cliff tops in the 1840s. The suburb began to grow after the opening of the park in 1880. Until then the middle classes had preferred leafy Ashbrooke (HER 12421). In 1880 Sir Hedworth Williamson and the Church Commissioners donated land for a park at Roker Ravine. The Corporation built a road bridge to span the Ravine opening up Williamson's lands to the north for development. In 1885 Roker Pier was started. By the mid 1890s Roker Terrace had extended southwards along the seafront. St. George's Terrace and part of Roker Park Road had been built. A group of large villas were built in their own grounds directly north of the park. By 1905 Roker Park Road, Park Parade, Roker Park Terrace and Ravine Terrace were complete. Three churches had been built including the grade 1 listed St. Andrew's (HER 7163). By 1907 the Conservation Area as it exists today was largely complete. Roker had become a thriving seaside resort. The development of the tram system was fundamental to its popularity. The park was a focus for tennis and bowls and the King presented four white swans for the lake. Roker Pier opened in 1903 after 18 years of construction. Development all but ceased after the Edwardian period. In the later 20th century some gaps in terraces were infilled and bungalows built in the grounds of some of the villas. Roker remained a holiday resort well into the 1960s.

Sunniside as a distinguishable urban neighbourhood dates from the 1790s, although what still stands is early to mid 19th century. In 1814 William Jameson was commissioned to lay out the Fawcett estate with terraced housing for the middle classes wishing to move away from the overcrowded and polluted riverside. By 1840 fine terraced townhouses on Fawcett Street, John Street, West Sunniside and Frederick Street, Foyle Street and Norfolk Street had been built. The properties were laid out in a grid-iron pattern. There were few business or commercial premises at first. Then shops began to spread southwards from High Street West along Fawcett Street. By the early 20th century Fawcett Street was one of Sunderland's main retail streets. Fawcett Street is some 18 metres wide and contains a significant number of high quality buildings. It is the grandest historic street in Sunderland. The street includes a diverse range of building ages and styles. These include late Georgian houses now converted into shops, fine classical style banks dating from the 1880s, some eccentric late 19th century buildings like Corder House and the Elephant Tea Rooms and some good quality mid 20th century buildings. Through the CA and alongside the fine Georgian and Victorian architecture there are some fine early 20th century properties within the CA, such as the General Post Office (HER 4733) built in 1903, Maritime Buildings (HER 4823) and Sunniside Chambers built around 1900. Other notable buildings include Sydenham House on Fawcett Street and the River Wear Commissioner's Building on St. Thomas Street. The area to the east of the historic core retains Jameson's gridiron pattern but has lost the majority of its historic buildings. High Street West forms part of the historic thoroughfare which linked the old settlements of Bishopwearmouth and Sunderland. A once thriving traditional High Street has fallen into decline.

A terrace considered to be of such architectural and historic merit that it warrants additional protection through an Article 4 (2) Direction, requiring planning permission for various classes of development such as enlargement, improvement, cladding, porches, satellite dishes, painting of masonry etc. Fine terracotta work.

A terrace considered to be of such architectural and historic merit that it warrants additional protection through an Article 4 (2) Direction, requiring planning permission for various classes of development such as enlargement, improvement, cladding, porches, satellite dishes, painting of masonry etc. Classically derived carved timber features.

A terrace considered to be of such architectural and historic merit that it warrants additional protection through an Article 4 (2) Direction, requiring planning permission for various classes of development such as enlargement, improvement, cladding, porches, satellite dishes, painting of masonry etc. A small but very distinctive terrace. Sandstone bays and balustrades, door surrounds and gutter features - exclusive to the Ashbrooke Conservation Area.

A terrace considered to be of such architectural and historic merit that it warrants additional protection through an Article 4 (2) Direction, requiring planning permission for various classes of development such as enlargement, improvement, cladding, porches, satellite dishes, painting of masonry etc.

A terrace considered to be of such architectural and historic merit that it warrants additional protection through an Article 4 (2) Direction, requiring planning permission for various classes of development such as enlargement, improvement, cladding, porches, satellite dishes, painting of masonry etc. Classically derived carved timber features.

A terrace considered to be of such architectural and historic merit that it warrants additional protection through an Article 4 (2) Direction, requiring planning permission for various classes of development such as enlargement, improvement, cladding, porches, satellite dishes, painting of masonry etc. Classically derived carved timber features.

A terrace considered to be of such architectural and historic merit that it warrants additional protection through an Article 4 (2) Direction, requiring planning permission for various classes of development such as enlargement, improvement, cladding, porches, satellite dishes, painting of masonry etc. Classically derived carved timber features.

A terrace considered to be of such architectural and historic merit that it warrants additional protection through an Article 4 (2) Direction, requiring planning permission for various classes of development such as enlargement, improvement, cladding, porches, satellite dishes, painting of masonry etc. Distinctive red brick walls and terracotta door cases featuring a lion's head.