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A Conservation Area is defined in section 69 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as an area of special architectural or historic interest, the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance.
Clearly many different kinds of areas are covered by this definition. They may be large or small and they will often be centred on Listed Buildings, on groups of fine buildings, terraces of townscape quality, attractive squares and open spaces, trees, an historic street pattern or ancient monuments.
To date, 24 Conservation Areas have been formally designated in Elmbridge, containing in excess of 1800 properties. These include parts of Town Centres (e.g. Walton and Weybridge), Village Centres (e.g. Thames Ditton and Cobham), and Village Greens (e.g. Weston Green and Giggs Hill Green). Their general locations are indicated on the |map. The Council has an assessment programme of other areas for designation as new or extended Conservation Areas. Plans showing the exact boundaries of all existing Conservation Areas in Elmbridge can be inspected at the Town Planning Division's offices.
Increasing pressure from new development, if not properly controlled, could threaten to overwhelm the environmental quality of those parts of Elmbridge that still retain much of their original character and with it the most tangible remaining link with our heritage. Designation as a Conservation Area gives statutory recognition and protection to such areas. Whilst recognising the need for change and acknowledging that historic areas should not stagnate, their designation places a duty upon the Council to ensure that their character and appearance are protected and that the design of any new development that does go ahead makes a positive contribution to such areas.
|View Map of Conservation Areas in Elmbridge