We, as the local planning authority, designate conservation areas within our district.
An area may be designated as a conservation area, due to the number of listed buildings it contains.
However, they may contain other special characteristics, such as:
- The way the buildings are grouped. They may be in clusters, around greens, enclosing squares or market places. This may be in rows - which are formal - or a more interesting mixture of styles
- The variety or special unity of the buildings (of which only some - or even none - are listed)
- The spaces themselves. There may be winding streets, green islands, or streets which contain many characterful buildings. These may be listed structures (such as a church) or unlisted buildings, with walls of brick and flint
- Street furniture, such as pumps, railings, sign posts and paving materials
- Soft landscaping, which can serve as a foil for buildings - or become focal points in their own right. They range from oak trees to grass verges, hedges or formal gardens