The Cabinet considered the Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plans for Chipstead Village and Brittains Farm. The report by the Head of Development Services explained that there was a duty on local authorities to designate as conservation areas any ‘areas of special architectural or historic interest, the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance’. Clear and concise appraisals of the character of conservation areas provided a sound basis for their designation and management and informed local development documents and provided a framework for the control of development. Two of the priorities for the next three years were to protect the historic nature of towns and villages and to encourage design that respected the scale and design of existing developments and these plans would help to achieve these priorities. All 40 of the Conservation Areas in Sevenoaks borough were covered by appraisals with the first tranche being introduced between 2000 and 2003 and some were over five years old and being updated to take account of revised boundaries and policy and developmental changes. The current review was part of an ongoing programme to update conservation area appraisals.

The appraisal and management plans had been consulted with the residents of the Conservation Area, the Parish and Kent County Councils, local conservation groups, local Members and English Heritage. The Environment Services Select Committee had considered the proposals at its meeting on 6 September 2011 and supported the adoption of the Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plans as informal planning guidance. It was felt that this would help the local community, developers, local authorities and development professions to engage in the conservation and enhancement of the local historic environment and secure the long term viability of the conservation area as an important heritage asset.

The Portfolio Holder for Planning and Improvement in introducing the report noted that the plans had required relatively minor changes and that no changes to the boundaries of the conservation areas were involved. 

Resolved: That the Chipstead Village and Brittains Farm draft Conservation Area Appraisal and management plans attached as Appendices B and C to the report be adopted as informal planning guidance.