(3) Local List Criteria

The Local List provides a register of buildings, which may not be considered to be worthy of protection under Listed Building status, but are important heritage assets contributing to the character of Rochford District. Current national planning policy guidance for conserving the historic environment is contained within Planning Policy Statement 5: Planning for the Historic Environment (March 2010). This guidance replaces that contained within Planning Policy Guidance 15: Planning and the Historic Environment from which the following criteria has been adapted.

Architectural Importance:

• Buildings with interesting architectural features, examples of local vernacular style and buildings that contribute to the local character of a specific area will be included.

• Buildings, whose overall appearance is not considered worthy of listing, but have distinctive individual features which are architecturally important such as a cupola.

Historic Importance:

• Buildings which have local significance or are rare surviving examples of a particular era will be listed, for example:

  • Any buildings, built before 1840, which survive in a similar condition to their original appearance.
  • Buildings constructed between 1840 and 1920 (Victorian / Edwardian periods) and between 1914 and 1918 (WWI) will only be listed based on their exceptional quality and local distinctiveness, due to the vast quantity of surviving structures nationally.
  • Buildings built in the post WWI period up to 1978 will be included in the list providing they are considered to be locally distinctive, historically important and are representative of a particular building design (for example 1920s/1930s Art-Deco style).

• Local distinctiveness refers to a building’s historical, social or architectural significance to a particular area. It also includes locally important people who were involved in the commissioning, designing or construction of buildings.

• Please note that buildings under 30 years old will only be considered in exceptional circumstances.

Street Scene:

• Buildings which contribute to the character of the street scene, for example individual or groups of buildings which are important to the uniform and/or attractive appearance of the street, in terms of their size, height, bulk or position along the street, which adds to or retains the traditional street pattern even though other features of the street may have substantially changed. Groups of buildings in the Conservation Area, which are not considered to have individual significance, will not be included on the Local List.

• Items of street furniture will be included in the list if they are of local historic importance, good quality and are character enhancing, for example telephone boxes, signs, troughs, street lamps and fountains.