Policy 28 requires conservation and enhancement of heritage assets. It applies to listed buildings, Conservation Areas, and other heritage assets. The council will support well-designed development that preserves or enhances their character and significance.
Plain-English summary of the adopted policy text below. The full text is the rule; this is the gist.
The Council recognises the significance and value of Havering's heritage assets and will support: i.
Proposals that seek to conserve and enhance the significance of heritage assets at risk in the borough; ii.
The maintenance of up to date Conservation Area Appraisals and Management Plans;
iii. The identification, and maintenance, of a local list of non-designated heritage assets that meet agreed selection criteria;
iv. Well designed and high quality development in a Conservation Area, or its setting, which preserves, enhances or better reveals the character and appearance of the area and its significance, and which contributes to local character and distinctiveness, taking into account the Conservation Area Appraisal or Management Plan. Where a building (or other element) detracts from the significance of a Conservation Area, its removal will be supported when acceptable plans for redevelopment have been agreed; v.
Viable uses, alterations or extensions to a listed building, or development within its setting, which would not be harmful to the significance of the heritage asset, including its historic and architectural interest;
vi. Well designed and high quality development within a Registered Park or Garden of Historic Interest, Historic Park or Garden of Local Interest, Area of Special Townscape or Landscape Character, or within their setting, which sustains or enhances the significance of the heritage asset, including its special character and important views; and
vii. Well designed and high quality proposals which would not affect the significance of a heritage asset with archaeological interest, including the contribution made to significance by its setting;
viii. The maintenance of up to date Archaeological Priority Areas;
Where a development proposal is judged to cause harm then it will be assessed against the relevant test in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) depending on whether the harm caused is substantial or less than substantial.
11.3.1
Havering's historic environment is central to its cultural heritage and is at the heart of its identity. It makes a significant contribution to the local economy and has a positive impact on the borough's communities, the well-being of individuals and their quality of life. The Council is committed to identifying, conserving and enhancing the significance of the borough's historic environment, and to seeking opportunities for people to access, enjoy and learn from its heritage assets, through sustainable development.
11.3.2
The Local Plan identifies a number of key growth areas in the borough which provide diverse development opportunities that can capitalise on Havering's unique historic environment.
High quality design and heritage-led development that responds to the character and appearance of the historic environment in these and other areas of the borough, and which positively contributes to local character and distinctiveness, will be encouraged in order to help sustain the distinctive character and vitality of the borough's town centres and neighbourhoods.
11.3.3
The borough contains a wealth of designated heritage assets, including 140 listed buildings, 3 Scheduled Monuments, and 11 Conservation Areas that are afforded statutory protection, and Upminster Court Gardens, which is on Historic England's Register of Parks and Gardens of Historic Interest in England. The Council will contribute to the maintenance of a ‘heritage at risk register’ with a view to raising the profile of those designated heritage assets that are at risk in order to help secure development proposals that will conserve and enhance their significance, and secure an appropriate viable use. All development proposals affecting designated heritage assets will be dealt with in accordance with the relevant legislation and the NPPF.
Local Plan 2016-2031 Adopted 2021 London Borough of Havering
11 High Quality Places 11.3.4
In order to ensure the preservation of the significance of listed buildings in Havering, planning applications involving alterations, extensions, alternative viable uses, or changes to their setting, will be considered more favourably when the proposals are clearly justified and necessary, and have been designed to enhance and minimise their impact on the significance of the heritage asset, including through appropriate conservation and enhancement measures.
11.3.5
The borough's Conservation Areas each have their own special character and architectural and historic interest that contributes to their significance, which needs to be respected by new development within them, and within their setting. For example, the special interests and significance of the Gidea Park Conservation Area, with its individually architect designed 'Arts and Crafts' style Competition and Exhibition houses, are very different to that of Romford Conservation Area, which are based on its historic significance rather than a defined architectural character. Havering's Conservation Areas all have Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Proposals which identify the special interest of each area. There are certain parts of the borough which, whilst not conservation areas, have special and unique characters which add to the landscape and landscape quality of Havering. Developments in these areas should aim to preserve the spacious character of the Emerson Park and Hall Lane and Upminster residential areas to maintain the special character of these areas. Due to criteria dealing with applications in the Emerson Park and Hall Lane Special Policy Areas are contained in separate SPD’s.
11.3.6
Proposals for new and replacement buildings and features within a Conservation Area or its setting, will be expected to be of a high quality design. For this reason, the Council will not normally accept applications for outline planning permission within Conservation Areas or their setting, and demolition will only be considered where the building, or other element, fails to make a positive contribution to the character or appearance, and significance of the Conservation Area.
11.3.7
Where the exercise of permitted development rights would erode the character or appearance of a Conservation Area, or other heritage asset, the council will seek to sustain their significance, including the contribution to significance provided by their setting, through the use of Article 4 directions.
11.3.8
In order to manage development in a way that conserves and enhances the borough's historic areas, the Council will undertake its duty to review the identification and designation of Conservation Areas against its agreed criteria for special architectural or historic interest. It will support the maintenance of the borough's Conservation Areas through the preparation of up to date appraisals and management plans. The Romford Conservation Area Appraisal is the first to be reviewed due to its 'at risk' status and its location within a Strategic Development Area, and this process is underway. The forthcoming review of the Gidea Park Conservation Area Appraisal will include a review and appraisal of the area previously designated as the Gidea Park Special Character Area within the 2008 Local Development Framework.
11.3.9
Not all of Havering's heritage assets are designated. There are also many non-designated heritage assets that contribute to the character and distinctiveness of the borough's historic environment including historic parks and gardens of local interest and locally important historic buildings. In order to ensure that these elements of the historic environment are conserved in a manner appropriate to their significance, the Council will work with local communities to promote the identification and maintenance of a list of non-designated heritage assets when these meet its agreed criteria. The proposed Local List criteria will be subject to public consultation. Development proposals affecting non-designated heritage assets will be dealt with in accordance with the NPPF.