Policy information sourced from Brentwood Local Plan

BE16: Conservation and Enhancement of Historic Environment

A. All Designated Assets

  1. Great weight will be given to the preservation of a designated heritage asset and its setting. Development proposals affecting a designated asset, including a listed building, conservation area, registered parks and gardens, or scheduled monument, will be required to:
    • sustain and wherever possible enhance the significance of the assets and its settings (including views into and out of conservation areas and their settings);
    • be supported by a Heritage Statement providing sufficient information on the significance of the heritage asset (according to its importance), the potential impacts of the proposal on the character and significance of the asset and its setting, and how the proposal has been designed to take these factors into account. The Statement should make an assessment of the impact of the development on the asset and its setting and the level of harm that is likely to result, if any, from the proposed development;
    • provide clear justification for any works that would lead to any harm to the asset.
  2. Proposals that make sensitive and appropriate use of heritage assets, particularly where these bring redundant or under used buildings or buildings on the At Risk Register, into appropriate use consistent with their conservation status will be supported.
  3. Proposals designed to enhance an asset and/or its setting and which reinforce its significance and contribution to the character of an area will be supported.
  4. Development proposals that would be likely to cause either less than substantial or substantial harm to, or loss or partial loss of, a designated asset or its setting will be assessed in accordance with the statutory framework and national planning policy.
  5. Where a proposed development involves the loss or partial loss of a designated asset, applicants will be required to record and advance understanding of the asset in a manner proportionate to its importance and the impact which will be caused.

B. Conservation Areas

In addition to satisfying the relevant criteria in A above:

  1. Permission for proposals which involve the demolition or partial demolition of a building in a conservation area will only be granted subject to a condition and/or a planning obligation (as appropriate) that no demolition will take place until an enforceable contract has been let for the carrying out of the new development.
  2. Development will be permitted in a conservation area where the siting, design and scale of the proposed development would preserve or enhance its character or appearance and important views into and out of the area are preserved or enhanced.

C. Non-Designated Heritage Assets

Development proposals that affect non-designated heritage assets and their settings, including protected lanes, should seek to preserve and wherever possible enhance the asset and its setting. When considering proposals which are likely to cause harm to such an asset consideration will be given to:

  • the significance of the asset and its setting; and
  • the extent to which the scale of any harm or loss harm has been minimised.

D. Specific Requirements

Specific requirements in relation to particular heritage assets identified in housing allocation policies should be read alongside the overarching requirements of this policy.

For more information please see the Local Plan