Policy information sourced from Lewisham Development Management Local Plan

DM Policy 36 New development, changes of use and alterations affecting designated heritage assets and their setting: conservation areas, listed buildings, schedule of ancient monuments and registered parks and gardens

General principles

For development proposals affecting heritage assets the Council will require a statement that describes the significance of the asset and its setting, and an assessment of the impact on that significance.

Where the significance of an asset may be harmed or lost through physical alteration or destruction, or development within its setting, the Council will require clear and convincing justification. The Council will consider the wider public benefits which may flow from the development where these are fully justified in the impact assessment.

The Council encourages the adaptation of historic buildings to improve energy efficiency in line with the detailed guidance provided by English Heritage. Careful consideration should be given to the most appropriate options for insulation, power use and power generation. Intrusive interventions, such as externally mounted micro-generation equipment or external wall insulation, should be avoided where these would unacceptably alter the character and appearance of the heritage asset. The Council encourages the retention and thermal upgrading of historic windows.

Conservation areas

The Council, having paid special attention to the special interest of its Conservation Areas, and the desirability of preserving or enhancing their character or appearance, will not grant planning permission where:

  • new development or alterations and extensions to existing buildings is incompatible with the special characteristics of the area, its buildings, spaces, settings and plot coverage, scale, form and materials
  • development, which in isolation would lead to less than substantial harm to the building or area, but cumulatively would adversely affect the character and appearance of the conservation area
  • development adjacent to a Conservation Area would have a negative impact on the significance of that area.

The Council will encourage the reinstatement or require the retention of architectural and landscaping features, such as front gardens and boundary walls, important to an area’s character or appearance, if necessary by the use of Article 4 Directions.

The Council will require bin stores and bike sheds to be located at the side or rear of properties where a front access to the side and rear exists.

Listed buildings

In order to ensure the conservation of Listed Buildings the Council will:

  • only grant consent for alterations and extensions to Listed Buildings which relate sensitively to the building’s significance and sustain and enhance its significance and integrity
  • have special regard to the desirability of preserving the setting of Listed Buildings in considering any application in their vicinity, and consider opportunities for new development within the setting to enhance or better reveal the significance of the asset
  • use its powers under Sections 47, 48 and 54 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, to ensure that Listed Buildings are maintained to a reasonable standard.

When considering applications for change of use of Listed Buildings, the Council will consider the contribution of the existing use and the impact of any proposed new use to the significance and long-term viability of the historic building. The Council will seek to ensure that the building is put into an optimum viable use i.e. the one that causes least harm to the significance of the building, not just through initial changes but also as a result of subsequent wear and tear or any likely future changes. The implications of complying with Building Regulations, such as fire escapes, will be taken into account prior to determining applications for change of use.

Scheduled Monuments and Registered Parks and Gardens

Scheduled Monuments will be protected and preserved in accordance with Government regulation. Where the site or setting is adversely affected planning permission will be refused.

When considering the impact of a development proposal on Registered Parks and Gardens, or on their settings, the Council will consider that any loss or substantial harm to these assets will be in wholly exceptional circumstances. The Council will apply the provision in point 2 of the above policy to the assets.

For more information please see the Local Plan