Conservation Area Management Plan
4. Preservation and
enhancement General Principles
Proposals for the enhancement of the
character and appearance of a Conservation Area should be aimed at
re-enforcing those qualities, which provide the special interest
which warrants designation. Each Conservation Area has a strong
identity in terms of character and use.
Thanet Conservation Areas require a
Management Plan
- To instill the sympathetic redevelopment of
sites.
- Devise pro- active proposals for the management of the
landscape.
- Form a scheme for the restoration of distinctive
architectural features.
- Promote the reinstatement of historic
surfaces.
- Encourage the reduction of traffic intrusion and a
rationalisation of street signage.
4.1 Maintaining Quality
The Council’s attention to quality in all of
the Thanet Conservation Areas will be maintained through its
contribution to the following elements of development and
alteration.
4.1.1 New development
New development in Conservation Areas should
aspire to quality of design and execution, related to its
context.
“In areas of special or predominant
architectural or historic character there is a strong need for the
design for new buildings to enhance, or at least maintain, this
special character by understanding and reflecting the positive
design attributes.”
Therefore each new proposal should
have site-specific design guidance, to encourage new development
that complements the established urban grain or settlement pattern,
whilst representing the time in which it was built and the culture
it accommodates.
Proposals for new developments should
be scrutinised for the appropriateness of the overall mass of the
building, its scale and its relationship to its context. A new
building should be in harmony with or complementary to its
neighbours.
4.1.2 Listed and Historic Buildings
Special statutory protection is given to
certain buildings of particular merit or interest in terms of
architecture, history or close historical associations. Listed
buildings refer to structure which occur on the Statutory List of
buildings of special architectural or historic interest compiled by
the Secretary of State following consultation with experts in the
field of historic buildings (e.g. English Heritage).
4.1.2.1 Repairs notices
Local Authorities under section 54 of the
Listed Buildings Act are given power carry out urgent works for the
preservation of any listed building in their area and recover the
cost of them from the buildings owner.
4.1.2.2 Alterations and Extensions to Historic
Buildings.
For major alterations and extensions to
buildings, the main principle is the character of the building and
surroundings must be maintained or improved by the works done. A
sympathetic approach is required; any minor alteration can be
damaging to an individual building or group. Historic features are
often important elements of character. However there is scope for
new additions or alterations to old buildings to be innovative if
they remain sensitive to the original design and do not overwhelm
it.
4.1.3. Ground Surfaces
Paving and surface materials can help define the built
environment, the plinth on which the buildings are set. In order to
help achieve this ground surfaces need to relate to their
surrounding streetscape context. Simple surface materials chosen to
complement surrounding architecture and responding to the scale of
the street or space as well as local traditions are advisable. When
repairing surfaces it is desirable to repair surfaces like for like
to avoid piecemeal surfacing. It is also important to repair
surfaces at first sign of damage.
4.1.4 Traffic Management
Many problems in Conservation Areas can
arise from or be associated with the measures required for traffic
safety, control and calming and pedestrianisation.
The need for increased road markings and
signage as well as for physical constraints such as barriers and
safety rails, introduces alien elements and visual clutter, none of
which tends to preserve or enhance the character or appearance of a
conservation area.
4.1.4.1 Traffic Signs
It is desirable to restrict signs to those,
which convey essential information only, reducing signs to a
minimum size and number will decrease clutter aided by the removal
of redundant signage. It is advisable to locate signs onto existing
lampposts or buildings. The use of dark or receding colours for
posts and the back of signs further reduces the visual impact of
the signage.
4.1.4.2 Street signs and nameplates
Street signs and nameplates are fundamental
to the understanding and character of a place. Local variations in
design, materials and lettering add richness and variety to the
street scene. It is desirable to retain older signs to reinforce
the local character. Where new signs are warranted it is important
they are consistent in form through the area. Again the
removal of superfluous and redundant signs is advisable as is the
location of signs on buildings or at the back edge of pavements. By
avoiding the placing of signs on new posts, will also help to
reduce visual clutter.
4.1.4.3 Residents Parking Schemes
Many of Thanet’s historic buildings have no
provision for off street parking. The character of the Conservation
Area can be quickly eroded in some areas by the removal of boundary
walling and the introduction of hard standing for parking. It is
desirable that survey is undertaken to record all areas, which
could be affected in this way and the possible introduction of
Residents Parking Permits.
4.1.5. Outdoor Advertisements
Outdoor advertising is essential to
commercial activity. All outdoor advertising affects the appearance
of the building or the place it is displayed. Signage needs to
reflect the character and appearance of the area and the design,
material and scale and its relationship to its context.
External illumination should be
non-fluorescent or halo lit. Signage lettering needs to be
individually applied and hanging signage may not be acceptable
above fascia level.
It is advisable that a policy should be in
place that in terms of repair and maintenance of signage,
sympathetic signage should be encouraged and that once major
refurbishment is required the above guidelines should be adhered
to.
Guidance documents of advertisements and
associated publicity on illegal fly posting is desirable. Provision
could be made for appropriate legal sites for advertising such as
glazed notice boards.
4.1.6. Landscaping
The land, trees and hedges, which make up
part of the Conservation Areas, need to be taken fully into account
in all schemes and need to be considered with, regard their
potential for enhancement. Adjustments could be made to maintenance
regimes to tackle poorly maintained and degraded landscaped areas
and parks.
It is advisable to design a landscape strategy to reduce the
management costs and enhance the bio-diversity / amenity of the
Conservation Areas. A survey to record all trees and establishes
their condition and amenity value. This will inform tree policy
across Thanet including possible TPO designation in the future.
4.1.7. Open Space/ Woodland
The present condition of some of Thanet’s
Conservation Areas open space is under used and somewhat neglected.
The Council regards it as important to secure measures for the
improvement of the amenity use and proper maintenance of these
valuable areas of town and villagescape.
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