Registered Charity No 1000447

Conservation Areas

The Home page of this web site refers to the Basingstoke Heritage Society’s particular interest in the six Conservation Areas within the Unparished Area of Basingstoke.

These are:

Basingstoke Town

Brookvale West

Fairfields

Park Prewett

South View

Worting

There are now more than 40 Conservation Areas in the Borough of Basingstoke and Deane, which are listed on the Conservation Area Appraisals page of the Basingstoke & Deane website.

This is the largest number for any single district in Hampshire, demonstrating just how rich the historic environment of the borough is.

The earliest of these conservation areas were designated by Hampshire County Council in the early 1970s, and the most recent by the borough council in 2004 and 2006. These areas vary greatly in character, size and history, from densely built-up urban areas of central Basingstoke to peaceful rural villages and parkland in the heart of the Hampshire countryside. They include some of the most picturesque villages in the county, but also areas of high development pressure and growth potential.

Well-kept and improving village and town centres are vital for the economic growth of an area, and as such the preservation and enhancement of the borough’s conservation areas is a key priority for the council.

What is a Conservation Area?

A Conservation Area is a statutory designation of an area which is considered to be, 'an area of special architectural or historic interest, the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance'. Areas are designated under the provisions of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 whilst this and a range of secondary planning legislation governs how those areas are protected through the planning process (see below regarding making changes and the need for permission).

The council has a duty to pay special attention when determining development proposals to the desirability of preserving or enhancing the character or appearance of a Conservation Area. This applies not only to developments within a Conservation Area, but also to nearby developments which could affect its setting.

Further information including full Area Appraisal documents and a detailed map of each Conservation Area can be found by using the following link to the Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council web site.

http://www.basingstoke.gov.uk/browse/environment-and-planning/conservation/conservation_areas.htm

TownCentre

Church Square

Winchester Street/London Street

Fairfields

Brookvale

South View

Park Prewett

Worting