Conservation Areas

A Conservation Area is an area of special architectural or historic interest with a character or appearance that is desirable to preserve or enhance. There are no standard specifications for Conservation Areas; they may include the historic parts of a town or village, have an important industrial past or, for example, cover an historic park. Invariably such areas will have a concentration of historic buildings, many of which may be listed. However, it will be the quality and interest of the area which will be significant. This may include spaces around buildings, views and vistas, historic street patterns, gardens (public and private), trees and field systems. Conservation areas give broader protection than listing individual buildings: all the features, listed or otherwise, within the area, are recognised as part of its character. The first conservation areas were created in 1967, and there are now over 8000 conservation areas in England. There are 145 in Cornwall.

Conservation areas were introduced through the Civic Amenities Act 1967. The primary legislation is the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990. The key reference to government policy on all development affecting conservation areas is Planning Policy Guidance Note (PPG) 15 'Planning and the historic environment' (1994). The definition of a conservation area remains as 'areas of special architectural or historic interest, the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance' (Section 69(1)(a) of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990.

Local authorities have the power to designate as conservation areas in any area of 'special architectural or historic interest' whose character or appearance is worth protecting or enhancing. This 'specialness' is judged against local and regional criteria, rather than national importance as is the case with listing. English Heritage can designate conservation areas in London, where we have to consult the relevant London Borough Council and obtain the consent of the Secretary of State for National Heritage. The Secretary of State can also designate in exceptional circumstances - usually where the area is of more than local interest.

Within a conservation area the local authority has extra controls over:

- demolition
- minor developments
- the protection of trees
- Demolition

Applications for consent to totally or substantially demolish any building within a conservation area must be made to the local planning authority, or, on appeal or call-in, to the Secretary of State for the Environment. Procedures are basically the same as for listed building consent applications. Generally there is a presumption in favour of retaining buildings which make a positive contribution to the character or appearance of the conservation area. Obtaining permission is necessary before making changes which would normally be permitted elsewhere, to ensure that any alterations do not detract from the area's appearance. These changes include certain types of cladding, inserting dormer windows, and putting up satellite dishes which are visible from the street.

Under legislation introduced in 1995, local authorities can make further restrictions on the kind of alterations allowed, depending on how these might affect the key elements of buildings in the conservation area. Examples might be putting up porches, painting a house a different colour, or changing distinctive doors, windows or other architectural details. The local authority has to have good reason for making these restrictions, and must take account of public views before doing so.

Trees make an important contribution to the character of the local environment. Anyone proposing to cut down, top or lop a tree in a conservation area, whether or not it is covered by a tree preservation order, has to give notice to the local authority. The authority can then consider the contribution the tree makes to the character of the area and if necessary make a tree preservation order to protect it.

保护区系指具有特殊建筑或历史意义的区域，其特色或外观值得保存或提升。保护区并无统一的标准规范；其范围可能涵盖城镇或村庄的历史区域，拥有重要的工业历史，或例如覆盖历史公园。此类区域通常拥有历史建筑群，其中许多可能已被列入保护名录。然而，区域的品质与兴趣才是至关重要的。这或许包括建筑周围的空地、景观和视野、历史街道格局、公共和私人花园、树木和农田系统。保护区提供的保护范围比单个建筑的列入保护名录更为广泛：区域内所有特征，不论是否列入保护名录，均被视为其特色的一部分。首批保护区于1967年设立，如今英格兰已有超过8000个保护区。康沃尔郡有145个。保护区是通过1967年的市镇设施法案引入的。主要立法为1990年的城乡规划法案和规划（列入保护名录的建筑与保护区）法案。关于影响保护区的所有发展项目的政府政策的关键参考文献为规划政策指导文件（PPG）15《规划与历史环境》（1994年）。保护区的定义依旧为‘具有特殊建筑或历史意义的区域，其特色或外观值得保存或提升’（《规划（列入保护名录的建筑与保护区）法案1990年第69条第1款第（a）项》）。地方当局有权在任何具有‘特殊建筑或历史意义’且其特色或外观值得保护或提升的区域设立保护区。这种‘特殊性’的判断依据是地方和区域标准，而非如列入保护名录那样以国家重要性为标准。英国历史遗产可以在伦敦设立保护区，我们必须咨询相关的伦敦自治市议会，并获得国家遗产部部长的同意。在特殊情况下，部长也可以设立保护区——通常是指区域利益超出地方的情况。在保护区内部，地方当局对以下方面拥有额外的控制权：- 拆除- 小型开发- 树木的保护- 拆除。在保护区内部完全或实质性拆除任何建筑的许可申请必须提交给地方规划当局，或在上诉或召回的情况下提交给环境部长。程序基本上与列入保护名录的建筑许可申请相同。通常情况下，保留对保护区特色或外观做出积极贡献的建筑是默认的。在做出通常在其他地方会被允许的改变之前，需要获得许可，以确保任何改动都不会损害区域的的外观。这些改变包括某些类型的覆层、安装阁楼窗户，以及设置在街道上可见的卫星天线。根据1995年引入的立法，地方当局可以根据这些改动可能对保护区建筑的关键元素产生的影响，对允许的改动类型施加进一步的限制。可能的例子包括搭建门廊、将房屋粉刷成不同的颜色，或更改具有特色的门、窗或其他建筑细节。地方当局必须具有充分的理由来实施这些限制，并在这样做之前必须考虑公众意见。树木对地方环境的特色做出了重要贡献。任何提议在保护区砍伐、修剪或削减树木的人，无论该树木是否受到树木保护令的保护，都必须向地方当局发出通知。当局随后将考虑树木对区域特色所做的贡献，并在必要时发出树木保护令以保护树木。