For the last few weeks the team at Brighton Planning have been looking at Conservation Areas and Heritage Assets. These are quite complex parts of the planning system and usually involve having to provide specialist statements or planning applications to show how the design proposals have taken the preservation of the heritage asset into consideration. We thought we would explain some of the basic concepts.
A Conservation Area is an area designation to help preserve a place of special architectural or historic significance. The Conservation Area restricts some development and prevents works to all trees within that area. Details of Conservation Areas are usually found on the Council’s website. Sometimes, the Conservation Area will be adjoined with an Article 4 Order that further restricts some forms of developments that would otherwise have the benefit of permitted development. So if you live in a Conservation Area remember to see whether any Article 4 Orders apply too.
A statutory listed building is one that has national significance either because of its age or its architectural quality. Usually listed buildings are graded into categories of Grade 1, Grade 2 or Grade 2*. Historic England have a list of all buildings and monuments that are statutorily protected. Historic England List. To dispel an old wives tale, a listing doesn’t just apply to the front façade, it applies to the whole building, inside and out. It also applies to the area around the building and this means that you will need a listed building consent application as well as a possible planning application if you are to make changes inside, outside or potentially within the setting of listed building.
Non-statutory listed buildings are sometimes known as locally listed buildings. These are buildings of architectural quality that are of local importance. Councils are responsible for the local listing and will have specific planning policies that restrict some forms of development proposals to ensure that the building is protected.
If you need further help with a heritage asset or Conservation area then do contact us.