A draft Chipping Sodbury Supplementary Planning Document is available for comment by clicking on the Chipping Sodbury link below.
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 30 of these in South Gloucestershire, covering 1000 hectares and the council has a rolling programme of character assessment leading to the development of enhancement proposals. What makes a conservation area?
The group value of buildings and their surroundings and the need to protect not just the individual buildings but the distinctive character of the area as a whole makes an area worthy of recognition as a conservation area.
The special character can be a combination of many features such as trees, walls, hedgerows, open spaces, groups of buildings, the degree of enclosure and the massing and detailing of buildings. Each area is unique.
How many conservation areas are there in South Gloucestershire?
There are 30, covering 1000 hectares. The council has a statutory duty to assess the special character of each area and identify ways of protecting and enhancing it. We have a rolling programme to fulfil this duty.
What special controls apply?
We have to pay attention to preserving or enhancing the character or appearance of conservation areas. This means that:
- New developments must fit in with the area's special identity and appearance
- New developments or extensions must meet high standards of design, particularly in terms of scale, proportions, materials and colours
- Care must be taken to protect important views
Therefore, extra controls apply to:
- The demolition of buildings and structures
- Extensions and alterations to both residential and commercial buildings
- Advertising displays
- Works on trees
How does this affect my planning application?
We must take great care to ensure that any changes will not have an adverse impact on the special character of each conservation area. Often, there are no objections in principle to a planning application – but there are problems with the lack of detail.
You will need to set out in your application details such as the type of mortar or render, the materials you will use, the colour etc. You also need to show the context of the work you want to carry out, including where boundaries and plants are.
Do you live in or near a conservation area?
Find out by checking under "Do it Now"