Local List Supplementary Planning Document (SPD): Discussion and Consultation Document - Community Involvement on Local Heritage Assets

The consultation is now closed.

*To view the Discussion and Consultation version of the Local List SPD, please select the document called ‘Local List SPD: Discussion and Consultation Document’ under Related Documents. Please note that this document is also divided into chapters.*

Rochford District Council sought your views on options for the Local Heritage Assets (LHAs) to be included in the revised Local List SPD through consultation on the Discussion and Consultation Document.

What is the Local List and how does it differ from Listed Buildings?

The Local List will identify buildings and items of street furniture (such as post boxes and street signs) which are considered to be of local historical or architectural importance (Local Heritage Assets or LHAs), and give them additional protection through the planning system. In contrast to national heritage assets that have been given Listed Building status, LHAs are not a statutory requirement. Local Planning Authorities may designate LHAs if appropriate.

It is important to emphasise that the Local List is not the same as the national list of Listed Buildings. Buildings and items of street furniture which are heritage assets of national historical or architectural significance are given Listed Building status under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990. This is a statutory designation which gives those on the list significant protection within the planning system.

The decision of whether a building or item of street furniture merits Listed Building status is determined by the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport. National heritage assets must be considered to be of ‘special’ interest to merit inclusion on the statutory list. Further information on how Listed Buildings are designated can be found by clicking the English Heritage link under Related Links.

There are nearly 400 national heritage assets designated as Listed Buildings within Rochford District, but there are many other buildings and items of street furniture which also make a contribution to the character of the District and are considered to be of local importance. These are the items proposed for inclusion in the new Local List.

The importance of the Local List has been recognised in national guidance and, as such, it has been included within the Council’s emerging Core Strategy. The Core Strategy is the main planning policy document which sets out the overall strategy for the District over the next 15 years and beyond. The Local List, once adopted, will become part of the Council’s Local Development Framework (also known as the LDF) in the form of a Supplementary Planning Document (or SPD). This means that it will offer advice and guidance rather than provide new policy.

The Local List SPD will identify a number of LHAs which are considered to merit additional protection through the planning system. Although the Local List does not afford statutory protection, the Council will work with owners of LHAs to provide guidance and advice, to ensure their retention and sympathetic enhancement, where appropriate.

For more information on the Local Development Framework, Core Strategy or Supplementary Planning Documents please select the relevant link under Related Links at the bottom of the page.

What is the Local List SPD: Discussion and Consultation Document?

This is a consultation document which sought your views on which buildings or items of street furniture should be identified as LHAs and included in the final list. This document predominately consists of a review of the buildings and items of street furniture which formed the 1995 Local List. Informal consultation with local Parish/Town Councils took place between February and March 2009 which sought views and opinions on the structures included in the 1995 list and any additional structures recommended for inclusion in the Discussion and Consultation Document. Buildings and items of street furniture submitted by members of the public or suggested through other consultations as part of the Local Development Framework process have also been included, as appropriate.

Comments on the Local List SPD: Discussion and Consultation Document were invited between 7th February 2011 and 6th May 2011. This document (both the full version and the individual chapters) can be found under Related Documents. Comments received during the consultation period can be viewed through our online consultation system – please select ‘View representations received on the Local List SPD: Discussion and Consultation Document’ under Related Links. Additional supporting information, including photos, submitted during the consultation can be found under Related Documents.

If you require any further information or advice, please contact the Planning Policy team on 01702 318191 or planning.policy@rochford.gov.uk . To be kept up to date on opportunities to be involved in the production of the Local Development Framework, please join our mailing list. This is a simple process requiring a valid email address. Please select ‘Join the LDF Mailing List’ under Related Links.