Titchmarsh Conservation Area

Many parts of our towns and villages have a “special” quality or character which is created by the arrangement of buildings, trees and other elements of the street scene, rather than by the architectural merit of individual buildings.

Conservation Areas are designed to offer a degree of protection to such areas and to prevent the unjustified loss of buildings, trees and features which contribute to the collective quality of the area. Unlike listed buildings, local authorities have the power to designate conservation areas of which the criteria is judged against local and regional importance, rather than its national importance. Titchmarsh was designated as a Conservation area in June 2010.

Within Conservation Areas planning permission is required for certain types of work that would not normally be needed. The sensitive application of all planning powers within these areas is important and special consideration is given to maintaining the qualities which give the area its particular character. A Conservation Area means that the local authority has extra controls over minor developments, demolition and the protection of trees.

Minor Developments

Buildings within a Conservation Area will require permission before making changes which would normally be permitted elsewhere. This is to ensure alterations do not detract or have a negative impact on the area’s appearance.

Aspects which will require Conservation Area Consent include:

• certain types of cladding, inserting dormer windows, and putting up satellite dishes which are visible from the street.
• demolition of all, and in some cases part, of any building, gate, fence, wall or other means of enclosure
• cladding any part of the outside of a building with materials such as stone, artificial stone, pebble dash, render, timber, plastic or tiles
• some extensions with more than a single storey that extends beyond the rear wall of the original building; and those that extend beyond the side wall of the original building
• the erection of an outbuilding between the side wall and boundary of an existing building
• installing solar panels on the wall that faces a public highway
• the installation of a flue, chimney or soil and vent pipe if it would face a public highway and is on the front or side of the building
• advertisements and shop fronts

This is not an exhaustive list and any questions or queries that you may have should be directed to    planning.enc@northnorthants.gov.uk  

Demolition

Applications to demolish, in total or in part, in Conservation Areas must attain ‘Conservation Area Consent’ from the Local Authority. Procedures are essentially the same as those for Listed Building Consent applications.

Trees

Trees in Conservation Areas, which are protected by a Tree Preservation Order (TPO), are subject to the normal TPO controls. But the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 also makes special provision for trees in Conservation Areas not covered by a TPO.

If you wish to carry out work to a tree within a Conservation Area with a stem diameter of 75mm or more (measured at 1.5m above ground) you must first give six week notice to the Local Authority.

Once approved by the Local Authority, work may be carried out up to two years from the date on which the initial notice of intention to carry out work was given. Before commencing any work within a Conservation Area, property owners, occupiers and other interested parties should contact North Northants Council, Planning Department at   planning.enc@northnorthants.gov.uk  to determine whether planning permission is required.