Conservation Areas on the Isle of Wight

The Conservation & Design Team have produced a work programme for reviewing conservation area designations and identifying new conservation areas. 

The priority list (which will be reviewed annually) is:

Numbers 1-5 have recently been completed.
Number 6 onwards are currently being considered.

The priority programme for work reflects English Heritage’s Conservation Areas at Risk report from 2009 and is based on numerous considerations, including the strength of character of an area (as defined by English Heritage guidance) and the level of control at the present time. A key consideration was the extent of growth supported by the forthcoming LDF Core Strategy and whether a settlement is within a regeneration area, or a rural service centre.  The sensitivity of an area to damage was also a consideration and it was agreed that small scale cumulative change (loss of boundary features, replacement PVC windows, removal of chimneys etc) across many individual properties was frequently the most damaging to the character of an area.

To protect the special quality of a conservation area it may be necessary to control and deter these cumulative changes which adversely affect the special character of a conservation area by removing permitted development rights. Where appropriate this can be done by an Article 4 Direction. Further considerations were practical/operational reasons i.e. where progress on research and designation had already been made, it was preferable to continue working on this area and for consistency to use the same member of the team (therefore taking into account existing work commitments of the officers to programme in completion of appraisals).