Policy information sourced from Hammersmith & Fulham Local Plan
DC8 HERITAGE AND CONSERVATION
The council will conserve the significance of the borough’s historic environment by protecting, restoring and enhancing its heritage assets. These assets include: listed buildings, conservation areas historic parks and gardens, the scheduled monument of Fulham Palace Moated site, unscheduled archaeological remains and buildings and features of local interest. When determining applications affecting heritage assets, the council will apply the following principles :
- the presumption will be in favour of the conservation, restoration and enhancement of heritage assets, and proposals should secure the long term future of heritage assets. The more significant the designated heritage asset, the greater the presumption should be in favour of its conservation;
- applications affecting designated heritage assets, including alterations and extensions to buildings will only be permitted if the significance of the heritage asset is conserved or enhanced;
- applications should conserve the setting of, make a positive contribution to, or reveal the significance of the heritage asset. The presence of heritage assets should inform high quality design within their setting;
- applications affecting non-designated heritage assets (buildings and artefacts of local importance and interest) will be determined having regard to the scale and impact of any harm or loss and the significance of the heritage asset in accordance with paragraph 135 of the National Planning Policy Framework;
- particular regard will be given to matters of scale, height, massing, alignment, materials and use;
- where changes of use are proposed for heritage assets, the proposed use, and any alterations that are required resulting from the proposed use should be consistent with the aims of conservation of the asset’s significance, including securing its optimum viable use;
- applications should include a description of the significance of the asset concerned and an assessment of the impact of the proposal upon it or its setting which should be carried out with the assistance of a suitably qualified person. The extent of the requirement should be proportionate to the nature and level of the asset’s significance. Where archaeological remains of national significance may be affected applications should also be supported by an archaeological field evaluation;
- proposals which involve substantial harm, or less than substantial harm to the significance of a heritage asset will be refused unless it can be demonstrated that they meet the criteria specified in paragraph 133 and 134 of the National Planning Policy Framework;
- where a heritage asset cannot be retained in its entirety or when a change of use is proposed the developer should ensure that a suitably qualified person carries out an analysis (including photographic surveys) of its design and significance, in order to record and advance the understanding of heritage in the borough. The extent of the requirement should be proportionate to the nature and level of the asset’s significance;
- the proposal respects the principles of accessible and inclusive design;
- where measures to mitigate the effects of climate change are proposed, the applicants will be required to demonstrate how they have considered the significance of the heritage asset and tailored their proposals accordingly;
- expert advice will be required to address the need to evaluate and conserve archaeological remains, and to advise on the appropriate mitigation measures in cases where excavation is justified; and
- securing the future of heritage assets at risk identified on Historic England’s national register, as part of a positive strategy for the historic environment.
For more information please see the Local Plan