Historic Environment

It is important to protect the Borough’s rich history and identity. The protection of this important legacy is controlled through planning legislation in the form of the designation of conservation areas, the statutory listing of buildings and the identification of local interest buildings.

Conservation Areas

Areas of special architectural or historic interest are designated as Conservation Areas to help preserve and enhance them for future generations.

Once we have designated an area as a Conservation Area, we need to:

1. Review Conservation Area boundaries to see if they remain appropriate.
2. Publish proposals to preserve and enhance the Conservation Area.
3. Paying special attention to the desirability of preservation or enhancement of an area when exercising planning controls, including:

Make planning decisions that ‘preserve and enhance’ the Conservation Area, by

• controlling demolition in Conservation Areas, which requires Conservation Area consent.  
• restricting works to any tree in a Conservation Area. 
• using our power to carry out urgent works to preserve unlisted buildings in a Conservation Area

We advise anyone wishing to carry out work in a Conservation Area, including works to trees, to seek our advice first by visiting our Development Control pages.

Conservation Areas in the Borough

There are currently six designated Conservation Areas in the Borough.  Each of these Areas are reviewed through a programme of Conservation Area Appraisals, which are intended to highlight qualities of the area that we see as worthy of protection and enhancement. Once completed, these appraisals will be subject to ongoing monitoring and review.

These Appraisals also provide a framework for future development and decision-making by:

• Considering how social and economic change is reflected in the current layout of streets, buildings and open spaces
• Describing the origins and development of areas
• Identifying prominent historic buildings, as well as local building materials and styles

The Appraisals are aimed at anyone with an interest in the area, whether they are a local resident, planner or developer.

Listed Buildings

The Borough is currently home to almost 200 buildings which have been ‘listed’ in recognition of their special architectural or historical importance. Once listed, a building receives protection from unsympathetic demolition and alterations.

A Listed Building is one that has been included in the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport’s List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest.  To consider a building for listing it must comply with Government criteria.  

Note On the 15 July 2010 an online form to apply for heritage assets to be designated was launched on the English Heritage website,  this online form replaces the previous application form.

If you are considering demolishing or making alterations to any part of a listed building, you must first obtain Listed Building Consent before starting work. Any internal or external works to Grade I or II* Listed Buildings will also require consent from English Heritage.

Local Interest Buildings

Although some buildings are of architectural or historic importance, not all meet the criteria to become ‘listed’ buildings. We identify the buildings as Local Interest Buildings.

We look to ensure that any developments affecting Local Interest Buildings are respectful of the character and appearance of the building.