Policy information sourced from the Tandridge Local Plan Part 2: Detailed Policies

DP20: Heritage Assets

A. There will be a presumption in favour of development proposals which seek to protect, preserve and wherever possible enhance the historic interest, cultural value, architectural character, visual appearance and setting of the District’s heritage assets and historic environment. Accordingly:

  1. Only where the public benefits of a proposal significantly outweigh the harm to, or loss of a designated heritage asset or its setting, will exceptional planning consent be granted. These benefits will be proportional to the significance of the asset and to the level of harm or loss proposed.
  2. Where a proposal is likely to result in substantial harm to, or loss of, a designated heritage asset of the highest significance (i.e. scheduled monuments, grade I and grade II* listed buildings, and grade I and grade II* registered parks and gardens), granting of permission or consent will be wholly exceptional.

B. In all cases the applicant will be expected to demonstrate that:

  1. All reasonable efforts have been made to either sustain the existing use, find viable alternative uses, or mitigate the extent of the harm to the asset; and
  2. Where relevant the works are the minimum necessary to meet other legislative requirements.

C. With the granting of permission or consent the Council will require that:

  1. The works are sympathetic to the heritage asset and/or its setting in terms of quality of design and layout (scale, form, bulk, height, character and features) and materials (colour and texture); and
  2. In the case of a Conservation Area, the development conserves or enhances the character of the area and its setting, including protecting any existing views into or out of the area where appropriate.

D. Any proposal or application which is considered likely to affect a County Site of Archaeological Importance, or an Area of High Archaeological Potential (AHAP), or is for a site larger than 0.4 hectares located outside these areas, must be accompanied by an archaeological desk-top assessment. Where the assessment indicates the possibility of significant archaeological remains on the site, or where archaeological deposits are evident below ground or on the surface, further archaeological work will be required. Evidence should be recorded to enhance understanding and where possible material should be preserved in-situ. In cases where the preservation of remains in-situ is not possible, a full archaeological investigation in accordance with a Council approved scheme of work will be required; the results of which should be made available for display at the East Surrey Museum or other suitable agreed location.

For more information please see the Tandridge Local Plan Part 2: Detailed Policies