Information Conservation areas
Content
What is a Conservation Area?
The Council may designate areas of special architectural or historic interest as Conservation Areas. The aim of this to enhance or preserve the character of such an area. There are 33 Conservation Areas in East Devon, covering parts of the main towns of Exmouth, Sidmouth and Honiton together with the historic cores of many smaller settlements.
How does an area merit this status?
The Conservation Areas vary considerably in size and character comprising a mix of nucleated, linear and scattered developments many containing individual, groups and clusters of buildings 'listed' in their own right as being of special architectural and historic interest. However, it is the quality and interest of the areas as a whole that merits Conservation Area status.
When the Council considers which area should become a Conservation Area it considers the whole area as well as individual buildings and landscape. The factors it considers include:
- The history of the area
- The layout of streets, plots and boundaries
- The mix of land uses
- Building styles and historic architecture
- Use of traditional materials
- Open spaces between buildings
- Important views within the conservation area and of the conservation area
- Shop fronts and advertisements
- Street furniture
- Landscape and Trees
How is a Conservation Area protected?
A range of additional planning controls exist to ensure that the special qualities and fabric of the designated area are not undermined by the loss or damage of important features or damaged by inappropriate, insensitive developments.
This does not mean that they cannot develop; change is often necessary to accommodate the demands of modern living as our historic towns and village centres are always likely to attract new development. Any development would, however need to preserve or enhance the character of the area and may require planning permission and/or planning permission for demolition in a conservation area.
We are particularly anxious to ensure that any new development through siting, scale, design and use of materials is complementary to the character and makes a positive contribution to the appearance of such areas.
You can check if your property is listed, in a conservation area or in an AONB.
Conservation areas and appraisals
- Budleigh Salterton historic building character
- Budleigh Salterton important features
- Budleigh Salterton detracting features
- Budleigh Salterton building materials (roofs)
- Budleigh Salterton building materials (walls)
Combpyne Rousdon (appraisal in progress)
- Conservation management plan
- Map 1 - historic building character
- Map 2 - important features
- Map 3 - detracting features
- Map 4 - building materials (roofs)
East Budleigh Conservation Area Appraisal Review and Management Plan 2020
Exmouth (Conservation Area Appraisal)
Exmouth (Conservation Area Management Plan)
- Historic Building Character - Town Centre and Sea Front.
- Important Features - Town Centre and Sea Front.
- Detracting Features - Town Centre and Sea Front.
- Roof Building Materials - Town Centre and Sea Front.
- Wall Building Materials - Town Centre and Sea Front.
- Historic Building Character - The Avenues.
- Important Features - The Avenues.
- Detracting Features - The Avenues.
- Roof Building Materials - The Avenues.
- Wall Building Materials - The Avenues.
- Historic Building Character - Bicton Street.
- Important Features - Bicton Street.
- Detracting Features - Bicton Street.
- Roof Building Materials - Bicton Street.
- Wall Building Materials - Bicton Street.
- Historic Building Character - Albion Street and Windsor Square.
- Important Features - Albion Street and Windsor Square.
- Detracting Features - Albion Street and Windsor Square.
- Roof Building Materials - Albion Street and Windsor Square.
- Wall Building Materials - Albion Street and Windsor Square.
- Historic Building Character - The Beacon and Louisa Terrace.
- Important Features - The Beacon and Louisa Terrace.
- Detracting Features - The Beacon and Louisa Terrace.
- Roof Building Materials - The Beacon and Louisa Terrace.
- Wall Building Materials - The Beacon and Louisa Terrace.
- Lympstone conservation area management plan
- Lympstone historic building character
- Lympstone important features
- Lympstone detracting features
- Lympstone building materials (roofs)
- Lympstone building materials (walls)
Sidmouth: Town Centre, Sid Vale, Elysian Fields
- Woodbury conservation area management plan
- Woodbury historic building character
- Woodbury important features
- Woodbury detracting features
- Woodbury building materials (roofs)
- Woodbury building materials (walls)
Listed trees are dealt with by out Tree officers.
The countryside team deal with landscape and wildlife conservation issues.