Conservation Areas

We have the power to designate "conservation areas", which are defined as "areas of special architectural or historic interest, the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance". Broadly, the designation of a conservation area means that:

• We can exercise a greater level of control over the merits of development to ensure it is in sympathy with its surroundings (in terms of materials, scale, etc).
• Applications for all proposed development in a conservation area must be advertised on site as well as in the press.
• Conservation Area Consent is required for the demolition of all but minor structures.
• It is more likely the development will require planning permission.
• Trees are given added protection.

We will review these conservation areas from time to time and may decide to alter the boundaries of existing conservation areas or designate new conservation areas. The latest information on such reviews and any changes to boundaries will be included on this page. We have produced a guidance leaflet which contains some advice for property owners within conservation areas: conservation area leaflet.

A series of "character appraisals" has been produced for each of the twenty conservation areas in Tendring. We have formally adopted these documents and so they are "material planning considerations" when considering development proposals within the conservation areas.

The appraisals contain detailed descriptions of the special character and appearance of the conservation areas highlighting significant local features, important buildings and street scenes. Some features are considered "neutral" or "negative" which may require future action to bring about improvements. Also suggested enhancements are included proposing improvements to certain buildings, spaces around buildings or wider environmental works.

Finally some of the appraisals contain suggestions to alter the existing conservation area boundary or introduce additional planning controls (e.g. Article 4 Directions). Any changes to conservation area boundaries or the introduction of additional controls will be considered in the future and will be subject to separate, statutory procedures involving consultation exercises.

Click on the links in the table below to view the conservation area appraisals, where you will find text describing the rationale behind the creation of each conservation area, buildings of note, maps of the areas and photo sheets depicting areas and buildings in their settings.

Conservation area links table

Conservation area management plans

Conservation Area Management Plans have also been produced setting out various management proposals for the conservation areas concerned. Such proposals include the following:

• improvement to the public realm including paving and landscaping works
• additional controls over small scale domestic building alterations
• new guidance documents on a range of subjects including shopfronts, traditional doors and windows, boundary walls, trees and hedges
• design coding for new developments

Completed conservation area management plans

Frinton Conservation Area Management Plan

Frinton Shopfront Design Guide

Walton Conservation Area Management Plan

Kirby-le-Soken Conservation Area Management Plan

Great Holland Conservation Area Management Plan

Manningtree and Mistley Conservation Area Management Plan

St Osyth Area Appraisal and Management Plan

The documents have the status of an important "material consideration" when considering planning proposals within the Conservation Areas

Draft conservation area management plans

Walton-on-the-Naze Shopfront Design Guide: Draft for consultation.

This Shopfront Design Guide was published for consultation purposes in December 2011.

Disclaimer

These conservation area character appraisals, adopted in March 2006 and appearing on this webpage are derived from earlier documents produced for the Council by consultants Smith Stuart Reynolds in 2001. Subsequently, the Council published these documents for consultation purposes in late 2005. They were then partially updated and amended to reflect the comments received from town and parish councils and other interested parties. No comprehensive revision and updating of the 2001 documents took place. Gradually the appraisals will be brought up to date and supplementary management plans adopted too.

The Council recognises that over time changes have taken place to various buildings referred to in the Appraisals so that certain comments / statements made in relation to those buildings are now, no longer applicable. For up to date information relating to planning applications, permissions or other developments on individual buildings referred to in the appraisals you are advised to use the Council's planning public access or contact Planning Services on 01255 686161