Conservation Areas

|What is a Conservation Area?
A conservation area is defined as an "Area of special architectural or historic interest, the character of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance" It is the quality and interest of the area, rather than the individual buildings which is of primary interest when designating a conservation area. There are 24 designated conservation areas within the Borough, which cover more than 1800 properties. These include historic town centres, village greens, a philanthropic retirement village, a 1920s motor racing circuit and river navigation channels. Within these areas , the Council applies special design policies and control over demolition of buildings and protection of trees in order to preserve and enhance their character and appearance. Additional controls in conservation areas include the requirement to obtain Conservation Area Consent for the demolition of any whole building over 115 cubic metres or of walls of more than 1m high abutting a highway or over 2m high elsewhere. An application for Conservation Area Consent can be |submitted online, or a form can be |downloaded. Additional information about conservation areas can be found on the English website.

The following information leaflets are available at the Civic Centre or to download:
|Conservation areas
A free guide which explains in general terms how the designation of a conservation area affects those who live, work or own property there; shows the location of conservation areas in the Borough; and provides design guidance on extensions and alterations to buildings, use of materials and landscaping.
|Shopfronts in conservation areas
A free illustrated guide providing advice to individuals and businesses considering the restoration, alteration or replacement of shop fronts in conservation areas.

|Location of Conservation Areas
To view the conservation areas in greater detail, select the relevant squares on the key map below. The more detailed maps may take a little while to download. Alternatively, you can |access our interactive mapping service to find the location of your house and whether it is within a conservation area.

|Conservation Area Designation Statements
Conservation Area Designation Statements have been produced for 23 of the Borough's 24 Conservation Areas and are available to |download.

|Conservation Area Character Appraisals and Management Proposal Document
These documents provide written definition, analysis and appraisal of what makes an individual area special and identifies actions for protection and improvement. In 2005 "CHIP" a Community Heritage Initiative Project was launched which was a partnership project between the Council and English Heritage to encourage the local community to get involved with and understand their historic surroundings. One of the outcomes of this collaborative approach has been the production of Appraisal and Management Proposal documents for 4 key conservation areas in East Molesey and Weybridge. Further information about the CHIP project can be found on |Community Heritage Initiative Project (CHIP).
The Town Planning Division recognises the importance of partnership working and community involvement and has incorporated this into its rolling programme to undertake further Appraisals and Management Proposals. Conservation Area Character Appraisals and Management Proposals have been produced for
1] Bridge Road, East Molesey Conservation Area, April 2006
2] Old Village, East Molesey Conservation Area, April 2006
3] Weybridge Town Centre, December 2006
4] Monument Green, Weybridge, December 2006
5] Esher Town Centre, February 2008
6] Thames Ditton, October 2009
7] Giggs Hill Green, October 2009

The following documents can be purchased in printed form at a cost of £5.00 per conservation area or can be downloaded in PDF format for free:

The Thames Ditton and Giggs Hill Green Conservation Area Character Appraisal and Management Proposals document, which is currently being printed, is now available to view below:

Claygate Village Conservation Area Character Appraisal
Following public consultation this document was originally adopted as Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) by Town Planning Committee on 12 December 2000. However, due to staffing and resource limitations at that time, the document was not published. Due to changes in the planning system, conservation area appraisals can no longer be recognised as SPG but this document will be used to refer to and in the interpretation of existing policies in the Replacement Elmbridge Borough Council Local Plan 2000 (REBLP 2000), and preparation of the Local Development Framework (LDF), as a basis for understanding the area, informing decision making and monitoring.

|Conservation Area Advisory Committees
Local planning authorities are recommended by PPG15 and English Heritage guidance to set up Conservation Area Advisory Committees. The Borough of Elmbridge is particularly fortunate in having 11 Committees covering 21 of its 24 Conservation Areas. These comprise of unpaid volunteers from the community who meet on a regular basis to provide the Council with feedback relating to planning applications within the relevant Conservation Areas. They also have a broader remit to initiate, suggest and advise on possible enhancement and landscaping schemes and to help in formulating policies for the preservation and improvement of conservation areas. Further information on the CAACs can be viewed in the following documents

Anyone interested in joining their local Committee should contact the relevant Chairman/Coordinator in the first instance

|Enhancement Schemes and Grants
The Council maintains a well established rolling programme of conservation area enhancement schemes and further information can be found under |Conservation area enhancement scheme It also provides grants toward the repair and maintenance of significant buildings

|Trees in Conservation Areas
The designation of a conservation area provides protection to trees within such areas even if they are not the subject of a Tree Preservation Order. With certain limited exception, anyone proposing to carry out work on trees within a conservation area, must give the Council 6 weeks notice of their intention and not commence work within that period. If the tree is not already the subject of a Tree Preservation Order, this gives the Council time to consider whether or not it would wish to place an Order on the tree or trees. If you are in any doubt as to whether your property is located within one of the Borough's Conservation Areas, please use the |online mapping service or seek advice from the |Town Planning Division. Penalties for undertaking work without the necessary 6 weeks' notice, or before the expiry of that time, are the same as for unauthorised work to trees under a Tree Preservation Order. An application for tree works can be |submitted online, or a form can be |downloaded.

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