Conservation Area Management Plan

Introduction

This plan sets out the local authority’s approach to the management of Conservation Areas in Thanet. It is based on national guidance, adopted planning policies affecting the area, and the other local authority services in the area.

National Guidance

National Guidance on Conservation Areas stems from the “Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 and associated Regulations, together with Planning Policy Guidance Note No 15 “Planning and The Historic Environment”, issued in September 1994.

Policy

This Management Plan indicates how relevant national, regional, county and locally adopted policies figure in the management of the Conservation Areas. However it is not a planning document.

The following documents have an influence on the Conservation Area Management Plan.

Regional Planning Guidance for the South East is currently set out in “RPG9”, issued in 2001 and updated in 2004. This is due to be replaced by the emerging “South East Plan” being prepared by the South East England Regional Assembly (SEERA). This new Plan was submitted to the Secretary of State in March 2006 and has been through an Examination in Public. Adoption is anticipated in 2008. In RPG9 Thanet lies in a “Priority Area for Economic Regeneration” suffering from significant deprivation. Part of the strategy is to focus development in urban areas and to ensure that the economy, society and the environment develop in harmony. The emerging South East Plan includes policies seeking to promote the sustainable development of communities, addressing intra regional disparities and protecting and enhancing key environmental, cultural and heritage assets. The Plan has policies on Management for an Urban Renaissance and the Management of the Historic Environment.
The “Kent and Medway Structure Plan” was adopted in July 2006 and contains polices for development affecting Conservation Areas. There are specific policies for conservation areas, archaeological sites, buildings of architectural and historic importance and historic landscape features in Chapter 5 “Promoting quality of life in town and country”.
The Thanet Local Plan was adopted in June 2006 and contains a significant range of specific polices for Conservation Areas, Listed buildings and archaeological sites in Chapter 7 “Heritage.” These policies are aligned with national and strategic policies and seek to ensure that new development preserves or enhances the important heritage of Thanet.
The Local Development Framework will comprise a number of documents, which will, in due course, replace the Thanet Local Plan as the key planning policy guidance for the area. This work is at an early stage but a Core Strategy is under development and this is programmed to be adopted in 2010.

A number of supplementary planning guidance documents provide more detailed guidance on how polices should be applied. The Kent Design Guide 2005 has been formerly adopted by the Council (SPG5) and advocates high quality design for new development and provides detailed guidance on the principals and consideration addressed in Policy QL1 of the “Kent and Medway Structure Plan.” The Council has also prepared a number of other guidance leaflets relating to Conservation Areas as follows:
Shopfront Design
Shopfront Security Shutters
Conservation Areas
Conversion of Shops to residential accommodation

The Council has adopted a Statement of Community Involvement, which sets out the council’s commitment to community involvement in all aspects of town planning, including matters pertaining to Thanet Conservation Areas.

Next: Conservation Area Designation

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