Living in a Conservation Area City and County of Swansea

Living in a Conservation Area City and County of Swansea This leaflet provides an overview of the issues/ considerations of owning a building and/ or living in a conservation area. This leaflet cannot address every eventuality, nor every conservation area, so you should read through first and contact the Council if you have any specific queries. What is a Conservation Area? What is important about a Conservation Area? Conservation areas are defined as: The designation of a conservation area seeks 'areas of special architectural or to preserve or enhance the character and historic interest,’ appearance of the area. When making planning decisions, the Council The character of these areas does not come has a statutory duty to give special attention to from just the quality of the buildings alone. The the desirability of preserving or enhancing the historic layout of streets; public spaces; lanes character or appearance of conservation and boundaries; characteristic materials; a areas. particular 'mix' of uses; trees; street furniture and particular views - all help make up the There are currently 31 designated special character of the area. conservation areas within the City & County of Swansea. These are: Information on the special architectural or historic interest of each of these areas is ■ Mumbles ■ Oxford St/ available from the Council web site at: Nelson St/ ■ Ffynone www.swansea.gov.uk/ca Union St ■ Reynoldston ■ Oxwich Green Information relating to conservation areas in ■ Parkmill Gower can be found within the Gower Design ■ Oxwich Village ■ Port Eynon Guide at: ■ Maritime Quarter ■ Cheriton www.swansea.gov.uk/spg ■ Alexandra Road ■ Ilston ■ Holt’s Field ■ Horton ■ Langland Bay ■ Landimore ■ Mount Pleasant ■ Llanmadoc ■ Bishopston ■ Llanngennith ■ Llansamlet ■ Penrice ■ Newton ■ Morriston ■ Loughor ■ Wind Street ■ Llanrhidian ■ Penclawdd ■ Sketty ■ Rhossili ■ Vivianstown 1 What does Conservation Area What is a Conservation Area designation mean? Review? Conservation area designation helps to The Council is required to review conservation protect an area's special architectural or areas ‘from time to time’. This review must historic interest by providing: involve the local community and stakeholders ■ policies written by the Council to guide and the end result is a two part document: planning decisions to preserve or ■ Character Appraisal enhance all aspects of the character or appearance of the This is an assessment of an area's special conservation area; interest and its character or appearance. This clearly outlines the special architectural or ■ control over the demolition of unlisted historic interest that warrants the designation buildings and walls and provide a reference for those preparing ■ control over works to trees within a proposals for change as well as a framework conservation area; for decision making by the Council. ■ stricter planning controls within a ■ Management Plan conservation area; This builds upon the positive features and ■ introducing a statutory requirement for addresses the areas of concern identified in the local planning authority to consider the Character Appraisal and provides the impact of a proposed development recommendations for improvement and upon the character or appearance of a change within the area. conservation area. How are Conservation Areas cared for? The designation of a conservation area should help to safeguard the special character particular to the locality. Designation therefore creates additional responsibilities for those involved (including all Council Departments) as well as those who own properties and/or live in the area. It is beneficial for local people become involved in the care of conservation areas through residents' associations, amenity groups and local history groups to ensure standards are maintained. Small scale enhancement schemes such as retention of historic street details including paving and street lights as well as the reintroduction of traditional paving materials and more appropriate but efficient street lighting are often beneficial to the appearance of a conservation area. There are many instances when a seemingly small alteration can damage the historic character and appearance of an area, 2 including: side of the dwelling between this and the side boundary of the curtilage ■ replacing natural slate or clay tiles with interlocking concrete tiles; ■ installing an antenna on a building which exceeds 15 metres in height or to a wall ■ painting or rendering over stonework or or roof slope which fronts and is visible brickwork; from a highway ■ replacing original timber doors with 'off Some conservation areas have additional the shelf' plastic or tropical hardwood restrictions on permitted development rights doors; (known as article 4 directions) and you should ■ replacing original timber sash or always check first with Planning Services. casement windows with plastic or tropical hardwood windows that do not match the original glazing pattern or What works to flats and commercial design; properties in Conservation Areas are ■ removing or replacing boundary walls, controlled? railings and hedges with materials not traditional in character. If you are an owner or tenant of a flat or a commercial property in any location (not necessarily a conservation area) then your What works to houses in property does not benefit from the same Conservation Areas are controlled? Permitted Development rights as houses and as such you are governed by planning controls In conservation areas the Permitted for many external alterations. In addition to Development rights granted under the Town this the conservation area designation will and Country Planning (General Permitted mean that particular care will be taken to Development) 1995 (as amended) are limited. ensure that, if planning permission is required Planning permission is required for certain then the character or appearance of the external works to a house within a conservation area is preserved or enhanced. conservation area, which would not normally require planning permission elsewhere. House extensions in conservation areas are subject What about new development in to greater restrictions than those not in such Conservation Areas? areas. There are also further restrictions on works to houses, for example: The Council will require all new building work and development to preserve and/or enhance ■ cladding any part of the exterior with the existing character or appearance of the stone, artificial stone, pebble dash, render, timber, plastic, metal, tiles or external wall insulation ■ adding to or altering the shape of the roof. The insertion of roof lights and the removal, alteration or replacement of chimneys ■ erecting a building, enclosure, pool or container within the curtilage of a house larger than 10 cubic metres where this is situated more than 20m from the dwelling or where any part of the building etc. would be situated to the 3 conservation area, and will typically insist that removal of only a small part of a building may planning applications include justification in not require conservation area consent. the form of a design and access statement explaining how the development meets these Whether the works are substantial is a matter Check pd rights for flats statutory tests. of fact and degree which will depend upon the circumstances in each case. You should There is no set design approach for a always check first with Planning Services conservation area, but the key requirement is when considering works of demolition. to relate sensitively to the context and to be high quality. Special regard should be given to such matters as scale, height, form, massing, What demolition of boundary walls in detailed design and quality of materials in the conservation areas is controlled? interests of harmonizing the new development with its neighbours. Density of development is Consent is required for the demolition of an intrinsic part of the character of boundary walls over 1m in height where these conservation areas. Proposals to subdivide face a highway or public footpath and 2m grounds or large gardens will not normally be everywhere else in the conservation area. permitted unless it can be demonstrated that such proposals will not harm the character or Further controls on Permitted Development appearance of the conservation area. rights will apply if the Council has made an 'Article 4 Direction'. Further guidance is set out It is strongly recommended that all in Circular 61/96: Planning and the Historic development proposals in Conservation Areas Environment: Historic Buildings and make use of the Council’s pre-application Conservation Areas. As circumstances may planning advice service prior to the vary you should always check first with submission of a planning application. Planning Services. What demolition in conservation What works to trees in conservation areas is controlled? areas are controlled? Subject to some exceptions, works for the Local authorities are required to preserve or substantial demolition of all or part of an enhance the character or appearance of unlisted building in a conservation area would conservation areas as a whole, not just the require Conservation Area Consent (CAC). character or appearance of buildings within In some cases works which involve the them. A major element in the character or appearance of many conservation areas is the 4 trees, gardens and other open spaces within There are exemptions from the general them. protection given to such trees in the

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