Conservation Area Character Assessment
Fareham Borough Council has designated 13 Conservation Areas that are considered to have special architectural or historic interest. They have been selected because each one has a character or appearance which it is desirable to preserve or enhance.
The character of each area derives not just from the age and style of individual buildings but also from the way groups of buildings are arranged, the spaces between them, their historical significance in the development of an area and their use. Many other factors such as: open spaces, landscaping, trees and important views all interact to form the overall character of an area. In order to make informed decisions about development that affects the character of a conservation area it is essential to have a clear understanding of what makes the area special. This series of Conservation Area Character Assessments identifies the features in each conservation area that help to define its character. The appraisals are not intended to be comprehensive and the omission of any particular building, feature or space should not be taken to imply that it is of no interest.
The function of the character assessments will be to:
- identify the special character of the area that justifies conservation area status
- provide assistance in the consideration of planning proposals that affect the character or appearance of a conservation area
- identify areas that have potential for improvement
The Character Assessment Documents have been written as supplementary guidance for use with the Fareham Borough Local Plan Review which sets out planning policy to guide development until 2006. Chapter 6 contains specific policies for the consideration of development affecting the Historic Environment including Conservation Areas and this series of documents will provide an important reference for their implementation. Government Guidance concerning Conservation Areas can be found in Planning Policy Guidance Note 15.
The Local Planning Authority has a duty imposed by the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 to;
- to determine which parts of the borough are areas of special architectural or historic interest the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance
- to formulate and publish proposals for the preservation and enhancement of any conservation areas
- to pay special attention to the desirability of preserving or enhancing the conservation area
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