There are 25 conservation areas in Rotherham. These areas have been designated by the Council because they are considered to be areas of special architectural or historic interest whose character or appearance should be preserved or enhanced.
In conservation areas, most demolition requires consent from the Council. In addition, close attention is paid to achieving a high design standard for new buildings and extensions to existing ones, so that new work complements the inherited character of the area. This usually means that new work should reflect the building forms, materials and design traditions of the area.
Most of the old buildings in conservation areas are not listed as being of special architectural or historic importance. However, they still make a vital contribution to each area's special character by virtue of their age, layout, traditional building materials and design features.
To protect this special character, consent is required from the Council for most demolition work in conservation areas. This includes the demolition (including partial demolition) of most buildings, and of some other features such as boundary walls.
Please Note:
It is a criminal offence to do such works without getting conservation area consent.
This control over demolition is in addition to planning permission being required, in the normal way, for most new building work.
Every owner of a building in a conservation area has a responsibility to ensure that repair and maintenance works are carried out with full regard to the building's character and the contribution it makes to the area's special qualities.
This is likely to mean using traditional materials instead of more modern ones that would look out-of-place in a historic setting. Such care will often enhance a building's value, whereas unsympathetic work may reduce its value.
Because carrying out work without the necessary consent can result in prosecution it is important to get good advice from the Planning and Transportation Service or an independent specialist (such as an architect, planning or conservation consultant), at the earliest stage.
Listed buildings in conservation areas have their own formal protection from demolition, alteration or extension (see 
Listed Building Consent). Where listed building consent is required it is not necessary to apply for conservation area consent as well, though planning permission may be required).
Applying for Conservation Area Consent
Please see Application and Fee Forms for details of the forms and plans required.
The Council's formal policy for dealing with applications for conservation area consent, and for planning permission in conservation areas, is Unitary Development Plan policy ENV2.11. More detailed guidance may be found in the UDP section "Environment Guidance 3: Development in Conservation Areas".
Further guidance about the protection of conservation areas may be found in PPG 15 (Planning Policy Guidance Note No. 15), "Planning & the Historic Environment", which is published by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.
Criteria for Granting Conservation Area Consent
Where conservation area consent is required, it is likely to be granted if:
- the Council is satisfied either that the building has no viable future due to its condition, location or other characteristics, or that it does not make a positive contribution to the area's special qualities;
- the details have been submitted of proposals for a new building on the site which the Council considers to be suitable in terms of the historic character of the area. Consent may only be granted for demolition works subject to a condition that no demolition takes place until a contract for carrying out works on the redevelopment of the site, as approved by separate permission, has been made.
Where consent is refused, there is a right of appeal to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.
Trees in Conservation Areas
All trees in conservation areas have protection from felling and other work. Please refer to Trees in Conservation Areas in this series.
Fees
There are no fees for applications for conservation area consent. However, where a building is to be demolished in order to erect a new building in its place, the accompanying detailed planning application for the new building will require a fee in the normal way: see Detailed Planning Permission.
Sitemap
