Conservation Area Appraisal for Chelmsford Avenue Almshouses - Consultation

Conservation Areas have special value for the community, they are visible links with or past and offer attractive contrasts to modern environments, and so it is important the special character of these areas is protected and sympathetic enhancements encouraged.

Conservation Areas can be created where a local planning authority identifies an area of special architectural or historic interest that deserves careful management to protect that character. Most local authorities have Conservation Areas within their boundaries (Southend currently has 15 Conservation Areas).

Local residents, businesses, property owners within a Conservation Area may need to obtain planning permission from the Council before making alterations to their property, such as changing windows, installing satellite dishes and solar panels, laying paving or building walls, amongst others. All properties within a Conservation Area are required to have this recorded as a Local Land Charge.

The Council has a duty to review its existing Conservation Areas from time to time and to look at the potential for any new Conservation Areas to be put forward for consideration. It is important that any Conservation Area designation is founded on the architectural and historic merits of that area only, both in law and being mindful of Government policy as set out in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).

Following public consultation on an initial report last year, which looked at the potential for Conservation Area designation to the Chelmsford Avenue Almshouses, a draft Conservation Area Appraisal has now been produced. The draft Conservation Area Appraisal sets out the architectural and historical special interest of the area, proposes a boundary for the Conservation Area, and includes a management plan.

The Council is now consulting on the draft Conservation Area Appraisal, and we would welcome your comments. You can find information relating to the proposed Conservation Area below, together with the survey, we advise you to have a look at the draft Conservation Area Appraisal document before taking the survey, this can be found in the ‘Documents’ section at the right of the page. Further information on Conservation Areas can be found in the ‘Important Links’ section to the right hand side of this page

Your feedback will help us understand your views on the proposed Conservation Area, and whether there is anything else to consider as part of this process, particularly in terms of local historical and architectural interest. Your comments will be considered when producing the final version of the Conservation Area Appraisal for consideration for adoption by the Council. Please email planningpolicy@southend.gov.uk

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This consultation is now closed for comment