Conservation Areas
Conservation Areas are designated by the District Council to protect those parts of towns and villages which have special architectural or historic interest. The designation of an area is not solely to protect individual buildings but to retain and develop the general character of the area, this does not mean that an area will never change, but rather that new developments must respect its established character. The designation of a Conservation Area shows a positive commitment to preserving and enhancing its quality.
Living in a Conservation Area
The success of Conservation Areas depends upon the care given to properties by owners and residents. The most important effect of designation is the greater emphasis placed on matters of design when planning new developments or alteration to existing properties.
New Development
The District Council is committed to ensuring that any new proposal within a Conservation Area will preserve or enhance and will not harm the character or appearance of that area. Where new developments are permitted, particular attention will be paid to their mass, form, scale, visual impact, materials and detailing. Modern designs will not necessarily be rejected in conservation areas but they must be designed with greater sympathy for the area, and relate well to their surroundings, buildings, spaces and trees.
Certain minor alterations and small extensions to existing dwellings in Conservation Areas can be undertaken without planning permission but it is recommended that advice is sought from the Development Control Section of the District Council before the commencement of any proposals are undertaken.
Article 4 Directions
An article 4 direction [The Town and County Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995] is a separate type of restriction which looks to retain high quality architectural features and is usually considered for areas that are under the greatest threat of development or increasing loss of character through unsympathetic alterations. Areas covered by article 4 directions are subject to the removal of certain permitted development rights. The District Council has implemented an article 4 direction within the Pleasley Park and Vale Conservation Area and is considering the implementation of an article 4 direction within The Park and Crow Hill Drive Conservation Areas, although all other conservation areas within the district will be assessed.
Law relating to Conservation Area
Section 69 of The Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 places a statutory duty on local authorities to designate areas, 'of special architectural or historic interest the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance', as Conservation Areas. The same legislation, under Section 71, requires local authorities 'to formulate and publish proposals for the preservation and enhancement of any parts of their area which are Conservation Areas'.
Another form of legislation available to a Local Planning Authority, that can be successful in relation to listed buildings and Conservation Areas, is Section 215 Notice of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. The scope of works that can be required in a Section 215 notice is wide and includes planting, clearance, tidying, enclosure, demolition, re-building, external repairs and repainting.
Conservation Areas within Mansfield District.
The District Council has ten designated Conservation Areas:
- Mansfield Market Place
- Bridge Street, Mansfield
- West Gate, Mansfield
- Nottingham Road, Mansfield
- Crow Hill Drive, Mansfield
- The Park, Mansfield
- Mansfield Woodhouse
- Market Warsop
- Church Warsop
- Pleasley Park and Vale
Proposals for the preservation and/or enhancement of Conservation Areas are in the form of character appraisals and management plans.The Council is proposing to designate a further Conservation Area at Terrace Road,Mansfield and has prepared its accompanying character appraisal and management plan.
Character Appraisals and Management Plans
Character Appraisals include an account of the history of the areas, define what gives the areas their special character and describes them in some detail. The appraisal lists and describes important buildings, including those included on the Statutory List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Listed Buildings), as well as identifying important trees and boundary features. The document also sets out all the Planning Policies that apply to the areas.
Management Plans identify strategies for the preservation and enhancement of conservation areas including grant schemes for repairs to historic buildings, planning policy guidance and the enhancement of the public realm.
From the 5th March 2013 Mansfield District Council has formulated, published and adopted ten Conservation Area Character Appraisals and Management Plans.
Your Views
We seek the public's views during a six week consultation period on all new Conservation Area Character Appraisals and Management Plans, as well as those under review. Your opinion does matter and will be taken into account and reported to the Council's relevant committees. To make your comments known within the six weeks consultation period you should submit your comments in writing please to: -
Conservation and Heritage Section,Mansfield District Council,Civic Centre,Chesterfield Road South,MansfieldNG19 7BH.A draft of the Terrace Road Conservation Area Character Appraisal and Management Plan has been published for six weeks public consultation from 11/02/13 to 25/03/13. The Council is seeking the public's views on this document and asks that comments be submitted in writing to the Council at the above address. Copies of the document have been made available to view at the Civic Centre reception, the library on West Gate and also on this web page.
The Table below shows our progress towards the preparation of Conservation Area Character Appraisals and Management Plans.
Name of Conservation Area | Progress on Character Appraisal | Date adopted | Progress on Management Plan | Date adopted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mansfield Market Place | Adopted Under review 2013 | August 2007 | Adopted Under review 2013. | August 2007 |
Bridge Street, Mansfield | Adopted Under review 2013. | August 2007 | Adopted Under review 2013. | August 2007 |
West Gate, Mansfield | Adopted | July 2008 | Adopted | July 2008 |
Nottingham Road, Mansfield. | Adopted | March 2013 | Adopted | March 2013 |
Crow Hill Drive, Mansfield | Adopted | December 2009 | Adopted | December 2009 |
The Park, Mansfield | Adopted | March 2006 | Adopted | March 2009 |
Mansfield Woodhouse | Adopted | November 2011 | Adopted | November 2011 |
Market Warsop | Adopted | April 2007 | Adopted | April 2007 |
Church Warsop | Adopted | March 2012 | Adopted | March 2012 |
| Pleasley Park and Vale | Adopted | March 2009 | Adopted | March 2009 |
| Terrace Road | Consultation period from 11/02/13 to 25/03/13 | Consultation period from 11/02/13 to 25/03/13 | ||
Reviews
Conservation Area reviews are carried out to provide more detailed information about designated areas and also how they can be improved. Mansfield District Council proposes to review each of it's Conservation Areas five years after the adoption of the respective Character Appraisal and Management Plan.
The Mansfield Bridge Street and Market Place Conservation Area Character Appraisals and Management Plans are currently under review and it is anticipated that these documents will be published for public consultation in 2013.
For further information on conservation areas and other heritage topics please contact the Conservation and Heritage Section.