Northumberland County Council provides advice
and consultation to local residents who are considering carrying
out any works on property within a conservation area. We can advise
on the need for permission, our procedures, what should be
submitted with an application and the matters that will be taken
into account in deciding an application.
Living in a Conservation Area
As a Council we seek to protect the character
of conservation areas by controlling development through planning
applications, and by controlling works to trees. We have a positive
commitment to these areas and aim to preserve and enhance the
quality of the environment. However, conservation areas are not
open-air museums but living communities which must be allowed to
change over time in order to remain vital and prosperous.
Consequently the emphasis is to guide and control development
rather than to prevent it. It is important though, that all new
development should be sympathetic to the special architectural and
aesthetic qualities of the area, particularly in terms of scale,
design, materials and space between buildings. We also try to
promote enhancement by encouraging high quality design and by
direct action where possible through environmental enhancement
programmes.
Successful Conservation Areas
The ultimate success of a conservation area will depend upon the
care which individual owners take with the maintenance and repair
of their properties and in any alterations or extensions they make.
For example original windows and doors should be repaired where
possible, or replaced with new ones to match the originals in terms
of materials used and details of their design. Cumulatively, even
small changes can detract from the special character of an
area.
Within a conservation area the local authority has extra controls
over demolition, minor developments, and protection of trees. Some
conservation areas have additional controls to the ones described
below and information on these can be gained by contacting us. If
you would like to make any changes to your property or require
further information please contact us.
Demolition in a Conservation Area
If your proposal involves demolition work, you
will need a special form called "Conservation Area Consent" from
the council. Otherwise development in conservation areas is dealt
with through the normal planning application process. If you are in
doubt about whether demolition is involved, please ask for our
advice. Generally there is a presumption in favour of retaining
buildings which make a positive contribution to the character or
appearance of the conservation area.
Trees in a Conservation Area
Subject to some exceptions (including small
trees and ones that are dead or dangerous), trees are protected in
conservation areas and are treated in a similar manner to those
covered by a Tree Preservation Order. Therefore, if you wish to
fell, lop or top or uproot trees within a conservation area, you
must give us six weeks notice in writing. It is an offence to carry
out the work within that period without the consent of the Council.
For all tree related enquiries, please contact the Tree and
Woodlands Officer on 0845 6006400 or email: ask@northumberland.gov.uk
Please
click here for more information on Tree Management.
Minor developments in a Conservation Area
If you live in a conservation area, you have to obtain
permission before making changes which would normally be permitted
elsewhere, to ensure that any alterations do not detract from the
area's appearance. These changes include certain types of cladding,
inserting dormer windows, and putting up satellite dishes which are
visible from the street.
Under legislation introduced in 1995, local authorities can make
further restrictions on the kind of alterations allowed, depending
on how these might affect the key elements of buildings in the
conservation area. Examples might be putting up porches, painting a
house a different colour, or changing distinctive doors, windows or
other architectural details. The local authority has to have good
reason for making these restrictions and must take account of
public views before doing so.
Called Article 4(2) Directions, they are
usually applied over an area rather than to an individual property
and are registered as a Local Land Charge, so that
you will normally be aware of their existence. If your house is
affected by such a Direction and you are not sure whether work you
are intending needs planning permission, please check with
Development
Management before any work commences. These Directions are not
issued without careful consideration, because the Council may be
required to pay compensation in circumstances where you cannot
obtain planning permission for development which otherwise would be
treated as permitted development. Planning permission is
required for any work identified in the Article 4 Direction,
click here
to get an application form.
Design of a new development in a conservation area
We require more detail with applications within and adjacent to
conservation areas than with a normal planning application. Most
applications in a conservation area should be accompanied by the
following:
· a plan
with the application building or site clearly marked
· a brief
description of the proposed works
· fully
detailed and clearly labelled "before and after" drawings of all
external elevations affected by the proposal, including its
relationship to adjacent buildings
· a
landscaping scheme (if relevant)
· in most
cases, a Heritage Statement of the effect of the proposal on the
character and appearance of the conservation area. Click here
for guidance on compiling a Heritage Statement.
Sources of information to help in preparing an application
The current conservation area legislation is
contained in the Planning
(Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 and the
practical interpretation of this is set out in the
National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF)
Grants
Grants may be available in some parts of the
county. Please contact us at conservation@northumberland.gov.uk
for further information.
Contact us
Email: conservation@northumberland.gov.uk
Telephone: 01670 620305
