5. Creating a Sense of Place

Conservation Areas

The Council will seek to conserve or enhance the significance and special character and appearance of each Conservation Area, and their setting.

The Council has produced and continues to update Conservation Area Appraisals and management proposals for each of the Borough’s four Conservation Areas to help increase understanding of and respect for their significance, special character, context, appearance and historical importance.

There will be a general presumption in favour of conserving buildings, spaces and structures (whether listed or not) that have significance and which can be identified as making a contribution to a Conservation Area’s special character or appearance. Where such buildings are vacant or underused, the Council will encourage their restoration and/or reuse.

New regeneration initiatives and development proposals in or affecting the setting of a Conservation Area will be expected to:

• Have full regard to the conservation and enhancement of all those buildings, groups of buildings, trees and other features which have significance and make a contribution to its special character, including its setting.
• Take advantage of opportunities to positively change any negative factors which detract from the significance and special character of the area, and / or enhance any neutral areas.

Conservation Area Appraisals should be followed when preparing or determining any planning application in or affecting the setting of a Conservation Area. Where any uncertainty arises in relation to the contribution made by unlisted buildings to the significance including the special architectural or historic interest of a Conservation Area the advice contained in English Heritage’s ‘Guidance on Conservation Area  Appraisals (2005) Appendix 1 and Planning Policy Statement 5 and its Practice Guide should be followed.

Listed Buildings

Compared to many other local authorities, Barking and Dagenham is home to relatively few statutorily listed buildings and structures. As such they are a precious resource, and we will operate a general presumption in favour of their preservation and where possible enhancement. In particular where buildings are identified on the Heritage at Risk register, the Council will support their appropriate restoration and/or reuse.

Proposals to alter, change the use of and or extend any listed building, or for development in the vicinity of a listed building, must demonstrate that there will be no adverse impact (individual or cumulative) on the significance including its special architectural or historic interest of the building and its setting.

Development proposals and regeneration initiatives which affect a listed building or its setting will be expected to demonstrate that any social and economic benefits of the scheme are balanced to ensure the development is in keeping with its significance including its special architectural and historic interest.

The Council will ensure that the list of locally listed buildings is periodically reviewed and updated, and will wherever practicable and reasonable afford a high level of protection in line with its approach to statutorily listed buildings.

Other Heritage Assets and the wider Historic Environment

Aside from the four conservations areas, other areas which are locally distinctive and historically important (such as the Becontree Estate) will be identified, celebrated and promoted. The preservation, reinstatement and enhancement of their locally distinctive and historically important features will be encouraged. This includes other heritage assets, buildings, spaces, parks and gardens and other elements of the historic environment that contribute to the distinctiveness of a place.

Development within or affecting any heritage feature should respect its local context and avoid materially detracting from its significance including its archaeological, architectural, historic, landscape or biodiversity interest, or harming its setting.

The Council will positively encourage development which would improve access to and public understanding and enjoyment of heritage assets, provided the development is consistent with its character and appearance and the detailed considerations outlined above. In areas undergoing significant change and redevelopment, heritage features should be regarded as assets to be preserved and enhanced and capitalised upon, and their potential to contribute towards regeneration and encourage high standards of building design should be fully explored.