Policy information sourced from the Croydon Local Plan

DM18: Heritage Assets and Conservation

DM18.1:

To preserve and enhance the character, appearance and setting of heritage assets within the borough, the Council will determine all development proposals that affect heritage assets in accordance with the following:

  • Development affecting heritage assets will only be permitted if their significance is preserved or enhanced;
  • Proposals for development will only be permitted if they enhance the setting of the heritage asset affected or have no adverse impact on the existing setting;
  • Proposals for changes of use should retain the significance of a building and will be supported only if they are necessary to keep the building in active use; and
  • Where there is evidence of intentional damage or deliberate neglect to a heritage asset, its current condition will not be taken into account in the decision-making process.

DM18.2:

Applications for development proposals that affect heritage assets or their setting must demonstrate:

  • How particular attention has been paid to scale, height, massing, historic building lines, the pattern of historic development, use, design, detailing and materials;
  • That it is of a high quality design that integrates with and makes a positive contribution to the historic environment; and
  • How the integrity and significance of any retained fabric is preserved.

DM18.3:

To preserve and enhance Listed Buildings, Scheduled Monuments and Registered Parks and Gardens within the borough, the Council will determine all development proposals that affect these heritage assets in accordance with the following:

  • Substantial harm to or loss of a Grade II Listed Building or Registered Park and Garden should be exceptional;
  • Substantial harm to or loss of a Grade I or II* Listed Building or a Scheduled Monument should be wholly exceptional; and
  • All alterations and extensions should enhance the character, features and setting of the building or monument and must not adversely affect the asset’s significance.

DM18.4:

To preserve and enhance the character, appearance and setting of Conservation Areas within the borough, the Council will determine all development proposals that affect Conservation Areas in accordance with the following:

  • The demolition of a building that makes a positive contribution to the special character and appearance of a Conservation Area will be treated as substantial harm;
  • Where the demolition of a building in a Conservation Area is considered to be acceptable, permission for its demolition will only be granted subject to conditions linking demolition to the implementation of an approved redevelopment scheme; and
  • All proposals for development must have regard to the development principles in the Conservation Area General Guidance Supplementary Planning Document and Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan Supplementary Planning Documents or equivalent.

DM18.5:

To preserve and enhance the character, appearance and setting of Locally Listed Buildings within the borough, the Council will determine all development proposals that affect Locally Listed Buildings in accordance with the following:

  • Substantial weight will be given to preserving and enhancing Locally Listed Buildings; where demolition is proposed, it should be demonstrated that all reasonable attempts have been made to retain all or part of the building;
  • All alterations and extensions should enhance the building’s character, setting and features and must not adversely affect the significance of the building; and
  • All proposals for development must have regard to Croydon’s Local List of Buildings of Historic or Architectural Importance Supplementary Planning Document or equivalent.

DM18.6:

To preserve and enhance the character, appearance and setting of Local Heritage Areas within the borough, the Council will determine all development proposals that affect a Local Heritage Area in accordance with the following:

  • Substantial weight will be given to protecting and enhancing buildings, townscape and landscape features that make a positive contribution to the special character and appearance of a Local Heritage Area; and
  • All proposals for development must have regard to the development principles in the Conservation Area General Guidance Supplementary Planning Document and the Local Heritage Area evidence base.

DM18.7:

Substantial weight will be given to conserving and enhancing landscape features or planting that makes a positive contribution to the special historic character and original layout of Registered and Locally Listed Historic Parks and Gardens.

DM18.8:

All development proposals must preserve and enhance War Memorials and other monuments, and their settings.

DM18.9:

In consultation with the Greater London Archaeological Advisory Service, or equivalent authority, the Council will require the necessary level of investigation and recording for development proposals that affect, or have the potential to affect Croydon’s archaeological heritage. Remains of archaeological importance, whether scheduled or not, should be protected in situ or, if this is not possible, excavated and removed as directed by the Greater London Archaeological Advisory Service or equivalent authority.

For more information please see the Local Plan