Planning

Conservation area

Part of Kington Langley is a designated conservation area. A conservation area is a place of special architectural or historic interest whose character or appearance is worth preserving or enhancing. Wiltshire Council designates conservation areas under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990.

Designation does not stop change, but it means new development is expected to fit in with the area’s character. What this means if you live or own property inside the boundary:

• Planning decisions: when deciding an application, Wiltshire Council must pay special attention to preserving or enhancing the character or appearance of the conservation area. Design, materials, scale and setting carry more weight.
• Fewer permitted development rights: some works that normally need no application do need planning permission here, such as cladding the outside of a house, some side and rear extensions, roof extensions and dormers, and satellite dishes on walls or roofs facing a road.
• Demolition: planning permission is needed to demolish most unlisted buildings, and some walls, fences and gates, within the area.
• Trees: you must give Wiltshire Council six weeks’ notice before cutting down or pruning most trees with a trunk of 75mm or more in diameter, measured 1.5 metres above the ground. This gives the council time to decide whether to protect the tree.
• Listed buildings: listed buildings have their own, separate protection, whether or not they are in the conservation area.

If you are unsure whether your plans need permission, check with Wiltshire Council before starting work.