Conservation Area Management Plan

1. Conservation Area designation

There are 20 Conservation Areas in Thanet, which are governed by the statutory regulations of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Act, 1990). The Council maintains it’s responsibilities in the Act to “preserve and enhance” the character of the Conservation Areas. The council also aims to undertake regular reviews of the areas to monitor the quality of development and the effectiveness of its policies and guidance.

2. Character appraisals

The Council is in the process of producing character appraisals or updating appraisals of each of the districts Conservation Areas of which this Management Plan is an integral part.

The appraisals are being compiled to describe and evaluate the special architectural and historic interest of the different Conservation Areas.

The statement of the character provides a basis for the making of development control decisions and to frame design guidance. The appraisals are the basis for individual Management Plans and Action Plans, identifying the elements of special interest of each of the Conservation Areas. They also provide a valuable resource for the defence of Appeals against refusal of planning permission. In the absence of an appraisal document for each of the Conservation Areas this document will provide an interim generic Management Plan for the Conservation Areas in Thanet.

3. Development Services

As a result of the demand for development, the character of the Conservation Areas are under constant threat posed by unsympathetic, poorly designed and executed new buildings, extensions and alterations. Therefore the role of Development Control is critical in managing future changes in the Conservation Areas

3.1 Principals for development services.

The Council will apply the principals, guidance and regulations outlined in the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) 1990 and Planning Policy Guidance Note 15 (PPG15.)
The Council will apply the polices set out in Regional Planning Guidance the Kent and Medway Structure Plan, the adopted Thanet Local Plan and successive documents as appropriate.
The Council will require any development proposal in a Conservation Area to display high quality design, materials and execution.
The Council will require all planning applications in Conservation Areas to be supported by a Design and Access Statement.
Clear indications of the materials to be used and architectural detailing must accompany applications for work in Conservation Areas.
The drawings through which the proposals are submitted should clearly demonstrate the intentions of the development.
Where possible the Council recommends pre-application consultation.

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