Policy information sourced from the Bexley Local Plan

DP14: Development affecting a heritage asset

Impact on asset or setting

  1. Development proposals with the potential to directly or indirectly impact on a heritage asset or its setting should meet NPPF requirements to describe the significance of the asset and demonstrate how the proposal conserves or enhances the significance of the asset.
  2. Development proposals on sites with existing heritage assets, particularly listed or locally listed buildings, should incorporate those assets. Outline applications will not generally be acceptable for developments that include heritage assets.

Change of use

  1. Any development proposal to alter or change the use of a heritage asset will need to conserve or enhance that asset; proposals must demonstrate how the change will support the building’s preservation and future maintenance. Development proposals should restore, re-use and incorporate heritage assets, wherever possible. Proposals must demonstrate that the new use would not adversely affect the fabric of the building.

Demolition

  1. There is a general presumption against any proposal for development that demolishes a heritage asset in part or whole, including locally listed buildings.
  2. Proposals to demolish buildings within Conservation Areas will be considered with regards to the NPPF approach to determining harm and will generally be refused unless it can be demonstrated that the development proposal would enhance the special character of the area; demolition will not be approved until consent for the replacement building is agreed.

Listed buildings

  1. Any proposed alteration must have regard for conserving or enhancing the special character of the building, both internally and externally. Replacement materials should be like for like or, where this is not possible or not preferable, should be compatible with the existing character of the building, either by sympathetically matching or contrasting.

Non-designated heritage assets

  1. Any proposed alteration to a non-designated heritage asset, including locally listed buildings, structures and landscapes, must have special regard to the asset’s contribution to the streetscape.
  2. Any proposed alteration to a non-designated heritage asset, including locally listed buildings, structures and landscapes, should conserve the particular characteristics that justify its identification.

Conservation areas

  1. Proposals for development within Conservation Areas must have due regard to the area appraisal and management plan in terms of design, use, and any other element identified as relevant.

Archaeological evidence

  1. Development proposals should be assessing the archaeological potential of sites and then retaining, in situ, archaeological evidence within sites, wherever possible. Where archaeological evidence cannot be retained, the appropriate levels of archaeological investigation and recording should be undertaken prior to the redevelopment of the site.

For more information please see the Bexley Local Plan