Conservation Areas

9.8 A Conservation Area is ‘an area of special architectural or historic interest, the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance’. The special character and appearance of a Conservation Area can be derived from many different aspects, including the scale, style, and materials of the buildings, the historic street pattern, street frontages and building lines, boundary structures, street furniture, trees and open spaces.

POLICY HC5: DEMOLITION OF UNLISTED BUILDINGS, STRUCTURES OR FEATURES WITHIN CONSERVATION AREAS

Proposals for the demolition of unlisted buildings, structures or features which are considered to be of architectural or historic interest within a Conservation Area, or which contribute to the character of the area will be considered against the following criteria:

• i) whether the proper repair of the building, structure or feature would result in the loss of the qualities which give it architectural or historic interest;
  ii) the potential impact on the character or appearance of the Conservation Area resulting from the loss of the building, structure or feature.

The local planning authority will, where appropriate, impose conditions or make use of legal obligations to ensure that both:

• a) prior approval of detailed plans for the redevelopment of the site has been obtained; and
  b) the contract for the redevelopment is in place, prior to demolition commencing.

9.9 As well as preserving the qualities and features important to a Conservation Area, the Borough Council will make sure that any new development respects the essential qualities of a Conservation Area and will itself preserve or enhance its special character or appearance.

POLICY HC6: NEW DEVELOPMENT IN CONSERVATION AREAS

Proposals for new development within a Conservation Area must have regard to the special architectural or historic character or appearance of their setting in the following respects:

• i) the scale, height, massing, alignment, style and materials of existing buildings;
  ii) the form, function and manner of construction of the existing buildings;
  iii) the relationship between buildings and spaces; and
  iv) plot divisions and boundary treatments.