Policy information sourced from the Richmond Upon Thames Local Plan

Policy 29 Designated Heritage Assets

A. The Council will require development to conserve and, where possible, take opportunities to make a positive contribution to, the historic environment of the borough. Development proposals likely to adversely affect the significance of heritage assets will be assessed against the requirement to seek to avoid harm and the justification for the proposal. The significance (including the settings) of the borough’s designated heritage assets, encompassing Conservation Areas, listed buildings, Scheduled Monuments as well as the Registered Historic Parks and Gardens, will be conserved and enhanced by the following means:

  1. Give great weight to the conservation of the heritage asset when considering the impact of a proposed development on the significance of the asset.
  2. Total loss of or substantial harm to a listed building should be wholly exceptional and will therefore be refused unless it can be demonstrated that the substantial harm or total loss is necessary to achieve substantial public benefits that outweigh that harm or loss in line with national policy requirements.
  3. Resist the change of use of listed buildings where their significance would be harmed, particularly where the current use contributes to the character of the surrounding area and to its sense of place, unless it secures the optimum viable use and/or there are public benefits to outweigh the harm.
  4. Resist the removal or modification of features such as original structure, layout, architectural features, materials as well as later features that contribute to the significance of the listed buildings.
  5. Demolitions (in whole or in part), alterations, extensions and any other modifications to listed buildings should be based on a proportionate understanding of the significance of the heritage asset.
  6. Require, where appropriate, the reinstatement of internal and external features of special architectural or historic significance within listed buildings, and the removal of internal and external features that harm the significance of the asset, commensurate with the extent of proposed development.
  7. Require the use of appropriate materials and techniques and strongly encourage any works or repairs to a designated heritage asset to be carried out in a correct, scholarly manner by appropriate specialists.
  8. Protect and enhance the borough’s registered Historic Parks and Gardens by ensuring that proposals do not have an adverse effect on their significance, including their setting and/or views to and from the registered landscape.
  9. Protect Scheduled Monuments by ensuring proposals do not have an adverse impact on their significance.

B. Resist substantial demolition in Conservation Areas and any changes that could harm heritage assets, unless it can be demonstrated that:

  1. in the case of substantial harm or loss to the significance of the heritage asset, it is necessary to achieve substantial public benefits that outweigh that harm or loss;
  2. in the case of less than substantial harm to the significance of the heritage asset, that the public benefits, including securing the optimum viable use, outweigh that harm; or
  3. the building or part of the building or structure makes no positive contribution to the character or distinctiveness of the area.

C. All proposals in Conservation Areas are required to preserve and, where possible, enhance the character or the appearance of the Conservation Area.

D. Where there is evidence of intentional damage or deliberate neglect to a designated heritage asset, its current condition will not be taken into account in the decision-making process.

E. Outline planning applications will not be accepted in Conservation Areas unless it can be demonstrated that the impacts of the development on the significance of the area can be fully assessed including views and vistas. The Council’s Conservation Area Statements, and where available Conservation Area Studies, and/or Management Plans, will be used as a basis for assessing development proposals within, or where it would affect the setting of, Conservation Areas, together with other policy guidance, such as Village Planning Guidance SPDs.

F. Sympathetic measures to make energy and carbon savings in historic and listed buildings are encouraged, by adopting a ‘whole house approach’ and understanding all the factors that affect energy use to avoid maladaptation. Any potential damages to the structure or heritage value, or impacting the setting of, historic buildings have to be avoided.

For more information please see the Richmond Upon Thames Local Plan