EB 11.23 Folkestone & Hythe District Heritage Strategy Appendix 1: Theme 13 Conservation Areas 1 PROJECT: Folkestone & Hythe District Heritage Strategy DOCUMENT NAME: Appendix 1 Theme 13 - Conservation Areas Version Status Prepared by Date V01 FIRST DRAFT S Mason 15.02.18 Comments – first draft of text. No illustrations or figures and need to add sources. Ready to be circulated to SDC for initial comment Version Status Prepared by Date V02 CONSULATION DRAFT S MASON 29 11 18 No feedback received – edit of District title and final check – Title Page added 2 Appendix 1, Theme 13 – Conservation Areas Summary 13.1 There are 21 Conservation Areas in Folkestone & Hythe District which were designated between 1969 and 1990. They include the historically important former Cinque Ports of Hythe and New Romney and their limbs of Lydd and Old Romney; the important former channel port and fashionable seaside town of Folkestone and its neighbour Sandgate; coastal settlements, villages of the Romney Marshes and the North Downs; as well as the unique and nationally significant coastal landscape and settlement at Dungeness. This nationally significant collection of heritage assets includes within its archaeology and built heritage evidence that can contribute to a better understanding of the development of early ports and their demise due to landscape change, the transformation of the Romney Marshes into a nationally significant centre for sheep farming, the rise of smuggling in the 18th and 19th centuries and aspects of many of the other themes covered in this heritage strategy. The assets have considerable aesthetic value and are highly valued by their communities and visitors to the area. Introduction 13.2 Since 1967 local authorities have been able to protect areas through the designation of Conservation Areas. Conservation Areas are designated where a place is value for its special historic or architectural interest, and where it is desirable to preserve or enhance the character and appearance. Owners or users of a property in a Conservation Area require permission to carry out certain types of alterations to that property, to demolish or substantially demolish a building and to notify their intention to cut down or prune trees in the area. To preserve the special interest of a Conservation Area it is possible to remove the permitted development rights on small scale development and alterations within a Conservation Area through the application of Article 4 and in particular Article 4(2) Directions. Folkestone & Hythe District's Conservation Areas 13.3 Folkestone & Hythe District has 21 designated Conservation Areas dispersed across the District with 11 located in the Romney Marsh and Dungeness, 6 amongst the North Down's villages and hamlets, and 4 concentrated on the major towns and settlement areas of Folkestone, Hythe and Sandgate. 13.4 In character the Conservation Areas principally concentrate on the historic cores of the District's settlements, many are villages or coastal settlements. Those in the historic towns such as Folkestone and Hythe are subdivided into specific character areas reflecting the complexity of the Conservation Area or as in Sandgate, New Romney and Dymchurch have split areas reflecting the separation of locations of special interest and character. In places the Conservation Areas are not solely focused on the historic settlement cores, for example Saltwood Conservation Area includes the medieval castle and a grange, Dungeness is designated for its landscape and natural value as well as its distinctive settlement and coastal heritage assets, the Hythe Conservation Area extends to take in part of the Royal Military Canal and Sandgate its defences and esplanade. 3 13.5 The earliest designation of a Conservation Area in Folkestone & Hythe District is that of Hythe in November 1969. Another 17 were designated in the next five years. Dungeness was added in 1985 and the last two at Littlestone and Frogholt in 1990. The following table illustrates the number of Conservation Areas by year of their designation. Conservation Areas by Year of Designation Year No. of CA designations 1969 1 1970 1 1971 5 1972 3 1973 6 1974 2 1985 1 1990 2 Total 21 Written Guidance & Management 13.6 Compared to many other Local Authorities Folkestone & Hythe District has performed well in reviewing its Conservation Areas and completing Conservation Area Appraisals that explain the special interest, condition and vulnerabilities of the Designated Area. Since their original designation 10 of the Conservation Areas have been amended, seven of which as a result of a programme of Conservation Area Appraisal published in 2008 and 2009. 13.7 Conservation Area Appraisals are an important part of understanding and explaining the special interest and aspects of a Conservation Area, its assets, condition and vulnerabilities. Without an appraisal it is difficult to make informed decisions that will better protect and identify opportunities for enhancement of Conservation Areas. A focused effort on Conservation Area Appraisal in 2008 to 2009 has resulted in appraisals being available for 14 of the District's Conservation Areas. 13.8 At present 7 Appraisals have been adopted covering 8 Conservation Areas, 4 more (covering 5 CAs) have been drafted and been to public consultation (at Feb 2018) and an appraisal covering the Old Town Character Areas of the Folkestone Conservation Area is also available. Additional protection has been afforded to the Dungeness Conservation Area through an Article 4(2) Direction. 13.9 Despite this a third of the Conservation Areas and several of Folkestone's Character Areas do not have information to inform their appropriate management. 13.10 Table 13.2 below lists the District's Conservation Areas by date of designation and identifies those with Conservation Area Appraisals. 13.11 Folkestone & Hythe District Council have included on their website, . http://www.shepway.gov.uk/planning/heritage, some basic introductory information 4 for those who want to undertake development or other works in a Conservation Area and also provide an interactive map to identify if their property lies in one, Copies of adopted and in-draft Conservation Area Appraisals can also be found on the website. 5 Conservation Designated Last Conservation Type Comment Area Amended Area Appraisal Hythe 14/11/69 8/5/08 Adopted Historic Town & Military Canal Elham 13/11/70 27/11/08 Adopted Historic Town New Romney 5/2/71 Draft Historic Town Cannon Street Combined New Romney 5/2/71 7/4/93 Draft Historic Town High Street Combined Lympne 12/3/71 Draft Village Dymchurch 3/12/71 Historic Settlement Church Area Dymchurch 3/12/71 Historic Settlement High Street Folkestone, 28/1/72 8/11/05 Old Town Historic Town Leas and Character Bayle Area only Sandgate 15/9/72 14/10/09 Adopted Seaside Settlement Esplanade Combined Sandgate High 15/9/72 14/10/09 Adopted Historic Town& Military Defences Street Combined Postling 13/3/73 28/5/09 Adopted Hamlet Etchinghill 20/7/73 Draft Village Lydd 20/7/73 Historic Town Newchurch 7/9/73 Village Old Romney 7/9/73 Farm, Church Brooklands 2/11/73 Village Newington 25/1/74 5/1/95 Draft Village Saltwood 14/8/74 22/5/08 Adopted Village & Castle Dungeness 26/6/85 11/8/08 Adopted Coastal Landscape & Settlement Article 4 Direction Littlestone 17/4/90 Seaside Settlement Frogholt 29/8/90 Adopted Hamlet & Setting 6 13.12 Historic England have provided advice and guidance on the designation, appraisal and management of Conservation Areas1 to assist local authorities, those involved in planning and development, property owners and other interested parties. The advice is in accordance with the NPPF and emphasises (para 2) that: • work in designating, appraising and managing conservation areas should be no more than is necessary and that designation is justified; • that activities to conserve and invest need to be proportionate to the significance of the heritage assets affected and the impact on that significance; • that those carrying out such work need enough information to understand the issues; 13.13 The note also advises that: • historic areas make a positive contribution to our quality of life; • local distinctiveness can provide a catalyst for regeneration and inspire well designed new development which brings economic and social benefits; • change is inevitable but not necessarily harmful and often beneficial; • owners of residential properties in Conservation Areas generally consider controls that they bring to be beneficial because they help to sustain and/or enhance the value of their property. Research by Historic England suggests that this premium is on average 9%2. 13.14 Conservation Area designation introduces controls over the way owners can alter or develop their properties which include (para7) : • the requirement in legislation and national planning policies to preserve and / or enhance; • local planning policies which pay special attention to the desirability of preserving or enhancing the character or appearance of the area; • control over demolition of unlisted buildings; • control over works to trees; • fewer types of advertisements which can be be displayed with deemed consent; • restriction on the types of development which can be carried out without the need for planning permission (permitted development rights). 13.15 Historic England sets out the ways in which Conservation Areas and their significance may be identified through historic characterisation studies, master- planning and through evidence collection for the local development plan. Also through local communities working on neighbourhood plans who identify areas which have a special interest to them. Paragraph 127 of the NPPF cautions local authorities to ensure that an area justifies designation as a Conservation Area because of its special architectural or historic interest so that the concept of conservation is not devalued through designation of areas that lack special interest. Regular reviews are needed to highlight areas that may be degrading to the point where the special interest is lost and de-designation warranted.