(1) 5. Character of Place

Vision

In five years...

• The Council has adopted a Local List which has afforded additional protection to locally significant buildings.

• Work has begun on implementing the Conservation Area Management Plans which is having a positive impact on the character and appearance of the District's Conservation Areas.

By 2025...

• The District's distinctive character and historical built environment has been retained.

• New development has been implemented which contributes positively towards the District's character.

Objectives

1. To ensure that new development respect and make a positive contribution towards the built environment.

2. To support and enhance the local built heritage.

Introduction

(1) 5.1 The District has a distinctive character which is worthy of protection. The Council is committed to both maintaining and enhancing environmental quality in the District.

5.2 All new development will be expected to make a positive contribution to this character and be of high quality design. Quality of design is important everywhere within the District. It is essential in producing attractive, vibrant, sustainable places, in which people want to live, work and relax.

5.3 Government policy contained in Planning Policy Statement 1 (PPS1) - Delivering sustainable development, makes it clear that good design should be the aim of all those involved in the development process. PPS3 - Housing, also emphasises the need to create places, streets and spaces which meet the needs of people, are visually attractive, safe, accessible, functional, inclusive, have their own distinctive identity and maintain and improve local character. The Council will encourage high standards new build in all circumstances, including in respect of the location, siting, design and materials used, as well as ensuring that the proposal will contribute to the enhancement or, where appropriate, improvement of the character of the area in which it is proposed. Tree planting and landscaping schemes using native species appropriate to their location will be an important part of new development.

Design

(3) 5.4 Rochford District has a unique character and appearance, much of which stems from the traditional buildings that still dominate the towns and villages. However, more recently the adoption of modern standardised building materials and building design has, in some cases, begun to erode the character of the District. This trend must not be allowed to continue. The Council aims to follow the principles of good urban design set out in national policies and ensure the design of all new and existing development is consistent with the local character.

5.5 Design will be expected to enhance local identity by being sympathetic to local needs and by building on local opportunities. In addition, good design can encourage community cohesion by designing out crime and anti-social behaviour, and reducing inequalities. With regards to corporate identities, and in-house building styles, they will be expected to be adapted to the local setting and should respect local character.

5.6 The Council will encourage and support the production of Village Design Statements for settlements in the District. These are community-led guidance documents outlining the distinct character of villages and their proposed future development from a local perspective. Design Statements will encourage community ownership and inform planners, designers and developers of sustainable opportunities for village enhancement.

5.7 Promoting good design may sometimes conflict with other aims, for example, promoting renewable energy. While promoting the development of small-scale renewable energy projects, the Council will ensure the location, scale, design and other factors are carefully considered.

5.8 The Council has adopted Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) 2 (Housing Design) and SPD 7 (Design, Landscaping and Access Statement) which provide detailed guidance on how good design can be achieved. The Essex Design Guide and Urban Place Supplement also provide guidance on delivering good design.

Listed Buildings, Scheduled Monuments and Conservation Areas

5.9 Good design is crucial when considering proposals that may affect historic buildings, especially those that are listed due to their architectural interest, protected due to their archaeological or historical status, or their contribution towards the character and appearance of a Conservation Areas. The Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 provides specific protection for buildings and areas of special architectural or historic interest.

Listed Buildings

5.10 Buildings are listed to help protect the physical evidence of our past, including buildings which are valued and protected as a central part of our cultural heritage and our sense of identity. Hence, these buildings have statutory protection and Listed Building consent is needed for their demolition, or to carry out any internal or external alterations that affect their character.

5.11 The Council will support the national policies that seek to protect Listed Buildings and pay particular attention to retaining their character.

Scheduled Monuments

5.12 Scheduled Monuments are archaeological or historical sites which are of national importance and protected under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. There are five Scheduled Monuments in the District which are:

• Plumberow Mount, Hockley

• Heavy Anti-aircraft gun site, 380m SE of Butler's Gate, Sutton

• Romano-British burial site on Foulness Island, Foulness

• Rayleigh Castle, Rayleigh

• Rochford Hall (uninhabited portions), Rochford

Conservation Areas

5.13 Conservation Areas are 'Areas of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance' (Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990). They have been designated to preserve and enhance the character of a whole area. These areas are afforded statutory protection and in addition often contain many Listed Buildings.

5.14 The Conservation Areas within the District are as listed below.

Conservation Areas

Battlesbridge

Canewdon Church

Canewdon High Street

Foulness Churchend

Great Wakering

Paglesham Churchend

Paglesham Eastend

Rayleigh

Rochford

Shopland Churchyard

5.15 Many of the high quality built environments of the District have been designated as Conservation Areas. These areas have a distinctive character and the Council has adopted Conservation Area Appraisals and Management Plans for the District's ten Conservation Areas. These Appraisals and Management plans detail the character of the Conservation Areas, assess their quality, and the proposed actions to be undertaken to ensure their protection and enhancement.

5.16 Designation of a Conservation Area extends planning controls over certain types of development, including extensions, boundary treatments, the demolition of unlisted buildings and works to trees. However it does not prevent all change and the area may be subject to pressures (good and bad) that will affect their character and appearance. The Council will preserve the special character of the Conservation Areas and to promote good design through implementing SPD6 - Design guidelines for Conservation Areas, as well as the Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plans.

Local Lists

(2) 5.17 The Council believes that many buildings in the District, despite not being listed, are of local distinctiveness and form part of a familiar and cherished local scene.

5.18 The Council dropped the Local List during the preparation of the Rochford District Replacement Local Plan, but more recent guidance (Review of Heritage Protection: the way forward (2004) DCMS and Heritage Protection for the 21st Century (2007) DCMS) suggests that these lists do have a valuable role. There is now positive encouragement from the government through the recent White Paper for the preparation of such lists and the Council will reintroduce such a list for the District.

5.19 Although there is no statutory protection for buildings included on Local Lists (except those in Conservation Areas), the Council will encourage owners to avoid demolition, unsympathetic alteration or changes which would diminish the architectural, historic or townscape value of these buildings.

5.20 The Council will not approve any unsympathetic alterations, including replacement of traditional windows or alterations to the external cladding, to buildings included in the Local List - specific design guidance and advice will be included in the Development Management Development Plan Document and appropriate SPDs.