Explanation DQ5

11.32

The Council has a duty to declare as Conservation Areas those areas of the Borough that have special architectural or historic interest, and whose character or appearance it is desirable to preserve or enhance. There are 15 Conservation Areas in Knowsley, which are shown on the Proposals Map and listed below. They vary in extent from large Town Centres to compact areas covering perhaps just one side of a street.

11.33

The designation of an area as a Conservation Area means that important historic buildings are protected from unauthorised demolition and that special care will be taken to ensure that new development fits in with the character of the area. Conservation Areas are not, however, intended to prevent change or development but to ensure that where change does take place, it preserves or enhances the essential character of the area.

New development affecting Conservation Areas

11.34

All new development (including alterations to existing buildings as well as new buildings) either within or near to Conservation Areas should preserve or enhance both the appearance and the more general character of the area, according to guidelines identified in the policy. Even if there have been previous unsympathetic developments within a Conservation Area, the presence of these will not justify further works which would be detrimental to the area.

11.35

The Council is preparing detailed character appraisals for each Conservation Area (see glossary), which will explain why each area has been designated and describe its important buildings and special features. The appraisals will be used to help determine the effect of proposed developments on the character or appearance of each Conservation Area.

11.36

Some Conservation Areas include gap sites or buildings that make no positive contribution to, or detract from, the character or appearance of the Conservation Area. The Council will seek to secure the redevelopment of these sites with new buildings of high quality design which is appropriate to their historic surroundings.

Procedures

11.37

A Design Statement should accompany development proposals to show how they will affect the character or appearance of the area. The Council will require detailed plans and drawings to be submitted with planning applications, showing the siting, design, scale, materials and means of access to the development, and its relationship to its surroundings. For this reason, applications for development in Conservation Areas should not be submitted in outline.

11.38

The Council may impose conditions on the granting of permission for any new development within Conservation Areas to ensure that the quality of a new development is not spoilt by inappropriate subsequent minor additions or alterations to the building. The Council has also issued Article 4 Directions (see glossary) covering some Conservation Areas, the effect of which is that planning permission is needed even for small-scale alterations (such as changes to windows) which would not otherwise need permission.

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