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Designated to conserve the character or appearance of those parts of the built environment which are of special historic or architectural interest.
A Conservation Area is an area of special architectural or historic interest, the character and appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance.
The purpose of a conservation area is not to prevent all development but rather to enable its careful management.
Various factors contribute to the special character of a Conservation Area. These include:
A strong 'sense of place' is often associated with Conservation Areas. It is the function of Conservation Area Appraisals to assess and evaluate 'character' as a means of assisting the planning process.
While subject to normal planning controls a range of additional controls and considerations also apply within Conservation Areas:
Unlisted buildings and structures are protected from substantial works of demolition (as defined by case law this means the whole of a building or structure, or whole of a building minus the façade). Qualifying works of demolition affecting unlisted properties will require planning permission.
Proposals to demolish buildings or structures that are deemed to make a positive contribution to the character and appearance of the area will not usually be looked upon favourably. An approved scheme for redevelopment will normally be required before consent to demolish will be granted.
Where demolition is being considered early consultation with a local Planning and Conservation Officers should be sought. It is a criminal offence to carry out unauthorised works.
Within a Conservation Area householder permitted development rights are subject to some restriction. Read the permitted development rights information on the Planning Portal.
There is a general requirement for solar panels to be positioned with regard to minimising affect upon the external appearance of a building and amenity of the area within which it stands.
Permitted development rights of shops, offices, financial or professional services are also restricted, planning permission is required for any 'alteration'.
Further restrictions may be applied by the through use of Article 4 Directions where a good case can be made:
Further advice and guidance can be obtained by contacting a Design and Conservation Officer, a Planning Officer or Tree Officer.
The Planning Conservation Assistants will be pleased to answer any general queries relating to the historic environment and provide more specific advice regarding issues of maintenance, repair, alteration and new development affecting listed buildings, conservation areas or other heritage assets.
Pre-application advice can be offered where applicable and this is recommended as a means of facilitating the formulation of appropriate proposals of sufficient detail and quality likely to be approved by the Local Planning Authority. This may be charged at local rates.
See our contact details, including our response times and the areas we cover.