Conservation area
Conservation areas are areas that have been designated as being of special architectural or historic interest, the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance.
The Planning (Listed Building and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 creates special controls for areas designated as conservation areas. Conservation area controls apply in addition to normal planning controls.
Conservation areas can be designated by a local authority, by Historic England (only in London), or by the Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport. There are approximately 10,000 conservation areas in England.
The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) states that:
'When considering the designation of conservation areas, local planning authorities should ensure that an area justifies such status because of its special architectural or historic interest, and that the concept of conservation is not devalued through the designation of areas that lack special interest.'
If an area is designated as a conservation area, special planning controls apply:
- Minor changes that might otherwise be considered ‘permitted development’ such as adding an extension, installing dormer windows or satellite dishes may not be permitted. Article 4 directions are used by local authorities to remove the right to permitted development. As article 4 directions are specific to particular local authorities, it is important to contact them directly to establish whether minor changes are allowed within a particular conservation area.
- Cutting down , lopping or topping trees must be notified to the local authority 6 weeks in advance so that they can consider whether the tree contributes to the character of the conservation area and whether to impose a tree preservation order.
- Proposed developments must preserve or enhance the special architectural or historic character of the conservation area. This does not specifically exclude innovative proposals but they must be sympathetic to their context.
Following the introduction of the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013, it is no longer necessary to obtain Conservation Area Consent when demolishing unlisted buildings in conservation areas, planning permission will be required instead. Failure to obtain such permission remains a criminal offence.
Local authorities should develop policies to help preserve and enhance the character and appearance of conservation areas. Developers considering projects in conservation areas should contact the local authority conservation officer to find out what the local policies are and whether conservation area consent may be required.
When considering an application, the local authority should consider the contribution the proposals would make to preserving or enhancing the conservation area. Decisions will generally take 8 to 13 weeks, and appeals can be submitted to the Secretary of State within 6 months. Applying for conservation area consent is free.
It is a criminal offence to undertake work in a conservation area without consent, and the local planning authority can insist that the work is reversed.
[edit] Find out more
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Archaeology.
- Civic Amenities Act.
- Conservation.
- Conservation area consent.
- Conservation as action and reaction.
- Conservation officer.
- Conservation in Chester.
- Conservation practice survey 2016.
- Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.
- Ecclesiastical exemption.
- Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 and listed buildings.
- Heritage Action Zone.
- Heritage at Risk Register.
- Historic England.
- How to make conservation areas work.
- Is conservation area policy fit for purpose 50 years on.
- Listed buildings.
- National Planning Policy Framework.
- Permission for felling or lopping a tree.
- Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act.
- Planning authority duty to provide specialist conservation advice.
- Principles of conservation.
- Scheduled monuments.
- Site of Nature Conservation Interest (SNCI).
- The history of conservation areas.
- Trees in conservation areas.
- VAT - protected buildings.
IHBC NewsBlog
IHBC South Branch Conference - Yearning for Timelessness
The conference on October 26 will look at ‘Modern architecture in historic settings’ with expert talks and site visits offering top-notch CPD with exceptional settings.
Don’t forget your free IHBC CPD & more for members and colleagues: 27 Oct, Edinburgh (Book ahead for free entry) with IHBC Scotland.
Topical CPD focusing on curtilage
IHBC East Midlands branch will be hosting an afternoon with Charles Mynors, the leading authority on heritage law, on Friday 9 November in the Lincoln City Council Chamber.
IHBC Belfast School Context now out
‘Our shared heritage’, with thanks to all, including Main School Sponsor and HESPR member ‘Heritage Collective’.
Lincolnshire local authority’s ‘national first’ offers a new approach to Conservation Area controls – two Article 4 Directions with a Local Development Order (LDO).
IHBC’s Policy Chair Roy Lewis notes the award of costs against Lambeth Council in a recent appeal which emphasises the importance of doing site visits!
IHBC - VAT reminder - LPOC Campaign 10K target signatures
Sign the LPOC’s petition to the Chancellor if you agree with the IHBC, that ‘…it is perverse that repairs should be subject to VAT when new development is not’.
IHBC HESPR top pick from £205K+ costed work this week
Braintree DC seeks Conservation Area Appraisals – closing 26/10, valued £10-25,000.
COTAC, the Council on Training in Architectural Conservation, seeks trustees with notes of interest by 15 November.
FMB says MAC recommendations would cripple construction
The Migration Advisory Committee’s recommendations for new immigration policy post-Brexit, would cripple the construction industry, says Federation of Master Builders.
New government investment aimed at overcoming barriers to building in England
Government has established investment to tackle issues on potential housing sites and get homes built in parts of England where they may be most needed.
IHBC Heritage from the doorstep
The Evening Standard has reported that an architect has been ordered to tear down award winning £4.65m home in Clerkenwell.
HE National Capacity Building Programme launched – closing 4/11
Historic England has launched the programme for projects running for 1 year max with a deadline for submitting grant applications 4/11/18 and funding to begin from 1/04/19.
Planning (Scotland) Bill – Briefing by BEFS
Built Environment Forum Scotland (BEFS) has issued a briefing on the Planning (Scotland) Bill.
England’s youngest Civic Society chair elected to Birmingham Civic Society
26 year old Amelia Ladbrooke has been elected as the chair of Birmingham Civic Society, and is the youngest ever Civic Society chair in England.
Ulster Architectural Heritage (UAH) and Food NI invite you to BAKE A BUILDING for the Big Building Bake Off at St. George’s Market, 29 October 12-3pm.
Comments