DESIGN AND CONSERVATION
Design Guidance
What is Design Guidance?
In order to ensure that the quality of new development in your District is continuously improved a series of design guides and leaflets have been produced in the form of Supplementary Planning Guidance. The guides aim to assist you by clearly setting out the basic design principles the Local Planning Authority will expect to see and cover a range of development proposals including house extensions, advertisements and barn conversions. It is hoped that these guides will give greater certainty to all those involved in the design process and improve the standard of design.
For more information on Design Guidance, you can contact our development management teams on (01403) 215165 (for queries in the northern part of the District,) or 01403 215170 (for queries in the southern part of the District). You can or email planning@horsham.gov.uk
Conservation Areas
Under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, the Council has designated 37 parts of the District as Conservation Areas. This means that they are of a special architectural or historic interest that are desirable to preserve or enhance. Most of the conservation areas in the District are concentrated around the historic cores of villages and towns and include a range of property ages and types, from Wealden houses, Georgian manor houses, to Victorian terraces and can include modern developments. Gardens, trees, open space, landscaping and street and development layout also form an important part of the character of an area. Conservation areas are show on the Proposals’ Maps
Planning applications in Conservation Areas
Conservation Areas have extra controls on development. You may need to apply for planning permission to make alterations to your property including cladding or rendering your property or making alterations to roofs and chimneys. Some extensions and changes to outbuildings may also require permission.
Some Conservation Areas in the District have further controls as they are subject to an Article 4 direction. Permission is required for alterations to windows and external doors, hard standing, boundary walls and fences and driveways.
An application for either planning permission or conservation area consent will be assessed giving special regard to the character of the conservation area, and will be measured against policy DC12 of the General Development Control Policies, adopted by the Council in 2007.
Conservation Area Consent
Conservation Area Consent is required for the substantial demolition only of any building in a conservation area which has a volume of over 115 cubic metres.
Conservation Area Character Statements
The designation of a conservation area is not an end in itself. The Council has developed policies which clearly identify what features of the area should be preserved or enhanced, and set out how this can be done through character statements and development control policies.
6 of the Conservation Areas in Horsham have adopted character statements. These outline the historical development of each conservation area, as well as their broad character, highlighting positive features and areas of future improvement. From time to time the Council will seek to designate new conservation areas.
Pre-application advice and planning applications effecting the character of a conservation area or its setting, and applications for Conservation Area Consent
Advice on the principle of a proposal can be requested in advance of a formal application being submitted. Photos, sketch plans and a description of your proposals help Planning Officers advise on such requests. The Planning Officer dealing with the enquiry may refer the enquiry to the Design and Conservation Adviser for an informal opinion. We aim to reply within 10 working days to your request. Pre-application advice is information only; the formal decision on any application will rest with the Development Control Committee or Authorised Officers under the terms of the Council’s Delegation Scheme. Please send your requests or questions to planning@horsham.gov.uk or Development Management, Park north, Nort Street, Horsham, RH12 1RL
How does it affect me?
If you live in a Conservation Area, then you will need to obtain Conservation Area Consent before you can demolish most buildings or take down any trees. You can find out whether your property is located within a Conservation Area by telephoning Planning Administration on (01403) 215187.
How do I apply?
There is no fee for making an application for Conservation Area consent. Application forms are available from the Planning department by telephoning 01403 215187, or you can request application forms online.
For further information please contact Development Control teams on 01403 215165 or 01403 215170 or e-mail planning@horsham.gov.uk