Policy information sourced from the Dartford Development Policies Plan
DP12: Historic Environment Strategy
Development should contribute to the conservation and enjoyment of the Borough’s historic environment. The Local Planning Authority will work with developers on strategies to realise this in the context of site heritage opportunities and constraints.
Where heritage may be at risk, landowners will be expected to work proactively with the Local Planning Authority in bringing forward proposals to preserve or enhance these assets, to facilitate their successful rehabilitation and seek their viable reuse consistent with their heritage value and special interest.
Development proposals which may affect the significance of heritage assets (both designated and non-designated) or their setting should demonstrate how these assets will be protected, conserved or enhanced as appropriate. Proposals should aim to reflect and interpret the historic character of a site and conserve its most significant historical and/or architectural aspects.
A heritage statement should accompany all planning applications affecting heritage assets. On archaeological sites, a desk-based assessment will be required as a minimum. Applications affecting designated heritage assets will be assessed under Policy DP13. Applications affecting non-designated assets will be assessed against the criteria below.
Non-Designated Heritage Assets
The Borough’s non-designated heritage assets include:
- Archaeological sites, including sites holding an interest as defined in the NPPF;
- Applicable sites within Areas of Special Character, as defined on the Policies Map;
- Sites with significant industrial heritage;
- Land with historic landscape character;
- Historic open space, parks and gardens.
Development proposals affecting non-designated heritage assets should establish the asset’s significance. Development should conserve or enhance those aspects that have been identified as significant and, where possible, should seek to better reveal an asset’s significance.
In determining planning applications affecting non-designated assets, the effect of the proposal on the asset’s significance will be taken into account. A balanced judgement will be taken having regard to the significance of the heritage asset and the scale of any harm or loss of significance. Development resulting in a total loss of significance will not normally be permitted.
For more information please see the Development Policies Plan