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Conservation Areas
What do I need to know in order to make a planning application?
If you live within a Conservation Area there are various criteria which you need to be aware of in order to make a planning application.
North Herts has 40 Conservation Areas covering its 4 historic towns and many of its villages:
Ashwell; Baldock; Barkway; Barley, Bendish; Charlton; Codicote; Croft Lane, Letchworth; Deards End Lane, Knebworth; Gosmore; Graveley; Great Wymondley; Gustard Wood, Hexton; Hinxworth; Hitchin; Ickleford; Kimpton; Kimpton Bottom; Letchworth; Lilley; Newnham; Norton; Offley; Old Knebworth; Pirton; Preston; Reed; Roe Green; Royston; Rushden; St Ippolyts; Sandon; Southern Green; Stockens Green; Therfield; Wallington; Weston; Whitwell, and Willian.
What are Conservation Areas?
Conservation Areas are 'areas of special architectural or historic interest, the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance'. They concentrate in protecting groups of buildings. It is the whole character of a place including its landscape setting, the spaces between buildings and sometimes archaeological sites that all go together to give a Conservation Area its very distinctive quality and interest.
Who designates Conservation Areas?
The power to designate areas is contained in government legislation, but it does not set any formal criteria for their selection. It is the responsibility of the District Council, in consultation with local communities, to decide which areas it considers being of ‘special’ architectural or historic interest worthy of designation.
Many of North Hertfordshire’s Conservation Areas were designated some time ago. Under the terms of the relevant legislation, Councils do have a duty to reconsider their designations from time to time. The District Council has embarked on a programme of reviewing its Conservation Areas.
What are special interest and character?
The special interest and character of a Conservation Area will include elements such as:
- Its history and development;
- Its landscape setting;
- Archaeology;
- Evidence of past uses;
- Layout and historic street pattern;
- The relationship of buildings to each other and the spaces they create;
- The architectural and historic quality of buildings;
- Characteristic features local to the area;
- Characteristic materials; and
- The contribution of trees, hedges and open spaces.
