Conservation Areas

A Conservation Area is an area of special architectural or historic interest, the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance. There are currently 20 Conservation Areas in Thanet which vary considerably in age, size, character and style. Better known Conservation Areas include Ramsgate, and Margate Seafront.

• You can check whether a particular property is within a Conservation Area by looking at our Conservation Area maps.

Conservation Area designation is a means of recognising the importance of the quality of the area as a whole, as well as protecting individual buildings. It enables us to preserve and enhance a Conservation Area’s character and appearance, and to control and manage change.

Recent Extension to the Broadstairs Conservation Area

As of 23^rd July 2009 Broadstairs Conservation Area has    been extended to include sections of townscape to the north and south of the present area. These additions can be found on the Conservation Area maps page.

The conservation area was first designated in 1970 with further extension in 1986.

Conservation Area Appraisals

Montefiore Ramsgate - January 2007

Royal Esplanade Ramsgate - April 2006 (pdf)

Westgate-on-Sea South - December 2006 (pdf)

Westgate-on-Sea East - December 2006 (pdf)

Westgate-on-Sea extension December 2006 (pdf)

Conservation Areas in Thanet Management Plan

• Management Plan

Documents are available in hard copy on request for a small fee

What are the effects of designation?

In addition to the normal planning controls, Conservation Areas enjoy special protection under the law. These are some of the key requirements:

• Anyone wishing to demolish a building or part of a building within a conservation area must first obtain conservation area consent from the District Council as Local Planning Authority. Certain buildings are excluded from this requirement.
• Anyone wishing to cut down, lop, top, uproot or do any work to trees, must give 6 weeks prior notification to the District Council. However, if the trees are already protected by a Tree Preservation Order then a formal application for consent is required.
• The District Council has adopted policies in the Local Plan, which aim to ensure the preservation and enhancement of the area.
• Planning applications for development, which would, in the opinion of the Local Planning Authority, affect the character or appearance of a Conservation Area, must be given publicity. Representations received will be taken into account in determining the application.

Conservation Area Consent

Conservation Area Consent applications should normally accompany a planning application for redevelopment of a particular site; we will consider the applications together. We normally require a statement supporting an application for Conservation Area Consent, including any structural or economic viability evidence, which needs to be analysed in detail by us and the government’s built heritage adviser, English Heritage.

Demolition of a building in a Conservation Area without prior consent is a criminal offence. If you wish to completely or substantially demolish a building in a Conservation Area, you need to have Conservation Area Consent before you commence work.

When the Council considers your application there is a presumption in favour of retaining buildings and structures that make a positive contribution to the character or appearance of the Conservation Area.

Depending on their location and height you may also need Conservation Area Consent to demolish fences, gates and other means of enclosure within the Conservation Area.

The Conservation Area Consent process is therefore similar to, and runs alongside, the planning application process. We will not normally permit the demolition of a building in a Conservation Area before its replacement has been approved.

If you are in any doubt about whether you need planning permission or conservation area consent please contact

• Planning Applications

National guidance on Conservation Areas is set out in legislation and in Planning Policy Guidance Note No. 15 entitled “Planning and the Historic Environment”. You can view it on-line at http://www.communities.gov.uk/

Conservation & Listed Buildings

E-mail:

Conservation-&-Listed-Buildings@thanet.gov.uk

Tel: 01843 577141

For Planning Application enquiries:

E-mail:

planning.services@
thanet.gov.uk

Tel: 01843 577150