Conservation Areas & Planning
Guidance for Shotteswell Residents and Property Owners
Shotteswell Green in the Spring
Planning Application Information
For information about planning applications, Stratford District Council are our local authority. Please click the link below to be taken to their page for detailed information.
Stratford D.C. Planning PageThe Conservation Area of Shotteswell
Shotteswell is a Conservation Area, and certain conditions apply.
Download: Shotteswell A4P Conservation Area DocumentShotteswell Economic Context
Ecosites in Shotteswell
Trees in Conservation Areas
‼️ Important: Work on Trees Requires Permission
As Shotteswell is a Conservation Area, there is a requirement to apply for works to trees. Find out more at Stratford’s planning page on trees in conservation areas.
Grey Squirrel in a tree
🌳 A Conservation Area is designated primarily because it is an area of special architectural and historical interest the character of which is desirable to preserve. Trees are an essential element to the established character of such areas and because of this they are included within the Conservation Area regulations.
Notice Requirements
Within a conservation area there are restrictions to the work that may be carried out on trees, including fruit trees. Notice must be given at least six weeks in writing before works are carried out to most trees within conservation areas. This allows enough time to give consent for the work or to place a tree preservation order on the trees.
The notice must describe:
- Which trees require work
- Their location
- The nature of the work
- The reasons for doing it
Exemptions
You do not need permission if you want to work on trees less than 7.5cm in diameter or less than 10cm (4 inches) in diameter (measured at 1.5m off the ground) if removal is to improve the growth of other trees.
Important: Ensure that the saplings are not subject to a Tree Preservation Order. If you are in doubt contact the Tree Officer. There are exceptions to the regulations but you are advised to give five days’ notice before you cut down a protected tree. This is in your interest – you could be prosecuted if SDC think you have carried out unauthorised works.
When You Do NOT Need to Give Notice
You must give SDC six weeks written notification of your intent to work on tree(s) in a Conservation Area unless:
- The tree is dead
- The removal of dead wood only from an otherwise healthy tree
- Where works are urgently necessary to remove an immediate risk of serious harm (a written notice giving at least 5 days notification is normally required prior to the date on which the works are to be commenced)
- You are obliged to carry out work which is compliance with any obligation imposed by or under an Act of Parliament
- At the request of a statutory undertaker. Most commonly, this applies to trees that overhang a public road where you have an obligation to maintain statutory clearance of the road
- The work is approved within a full planning permission. Note that this does not apply to outline planning permission or to permitted development rights
- The work is to be carried out by or on behalf of the Forestry Commission, is works done by anyone in accordance with a Forestry Commission scheme or if a felling licence has been granted by the Forestry Commission
- It is to prevent or control a legal nuisance (this is ‘nuisance’ in the legal sense and not in the ordinary sense) – contact the Tree Officer or your solicitor for further advice on this particular issue
- Works to trees whose diameter does not exceed 75 millimetres; or where works are carried out for the sole purpose of improving the growth of other trees, of a tree whose diameter does not exceed 100 millimetres
Penalties
🚨 Important Warning: If you deliberately destroy a tree, or damage it in a manner likely to destroy it, you could be fined up to £20,000 if convicted in the Magistrates’ Court. In determining the amount of the fine, the Courts will take into account any financial benefit arising from the offence. For other offences you could be fined up to £2,500.
Application Forms & Online Submissions
Tree Applications
Certain rules apply for trees in a Conservation Area. Please see the information above for full details.
Other Application Forms
Apply Online
What is a Conservation Area?
Local authorities have the responsibility to designate Conservation Areas, defined as: ‘an area of special architectural or historic interest, the character and appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance.’ – Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990.
If you live, work or own property in a Conservation Area, certain responsibilities are placed on both you and the District Council:
- In many cases, you must apply for permission to extend or demolish a part of your property.
- Proposals for new development, signs and advertisements will need to be sensitive to their surroundings.
- You must notify the District Council if you wish to undertake pruning works or fell a tree.
Conservation Areas normally contain a large number of listed buildings. These are subject to their own special legal protection.
How many Conservation Areas are there in the district?
The Stratford-on-Avon District currently contains 75 designated conservation areas, all of which have been reviewed since 1990.
For a list of publications available, please see the Stratford District Council website.
Submitting Applications & Special Controls
Planning Applications
- You can submit applications for permission or consent online via the national Planning Portal; or
- Download the relevant national standard 1APP forms.
My property isn’t listed: Do special planning controls affect me?
Before you start any work, it is advisable to see if you need any type of permission as extra planning controls apply in Conservation areas.
Contact Planning on: 01789 260304, or by emailing planning.applications@stratford-dc.gov.uk.
You may need Planning Permission and Building Regulations Approval for some alterations and extensions and also Conservation Area Consent if you want to carry out demolition work.
Examples that may require permission include: cladding exterior walls, erecting satellite dishes on the fronting highway, and undertaking roof alterations.
Works, usually excavation works, in certain Conservation Areas may also have archaeological implications. title=”Warwickshire County Museum” href=”http://heritage.warwickshire.gov.uk/museum-service/” target=”_blank” class=”social-link”>Warwickshire County Museum will be able to tell you whether title=”Scheduled Monument Consent” href=”http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/professional/advice/our-planning-role/consent/smc/” target=”_blank” class=”social-link”>Scheduled Monument Consent is required.
Demolition and New Development Proposals
I want to demolish my unlisted property (or part of it): Do I need any special permission?
Conservation Area Consent is required in many cases should you want to demolish all or a significant part of any building within the conservation area. This includes outbuildings, walls, fences, railing or gates.
For advice on specific cases, contact Planning on: 01789 260360, or by emailing planning.applications@stratford-dc.gov.uk.
How do I ensure that my new development proposals enhance the Conservation Area?
Modern buildings are not necessarily out of place, but they must be well designed, sympathetic to their surroundings, use appropriate materials, and incorporate sympathetic landscape treatments.
New development must respect its historic context in volume, height, scale, form and quality. The award-winning Stratford District Design Guide is a valuable reference tool (available from Reception at a cost of £18.00).
Listed Buildings & Trees/Hedges
My property is listed: How do conservation area controls affect me?
Conservation Area designation does not convey any additional controls. Listed buildings have their own strict legal safeguards. Any change to the fabric of the building (both outside and inside) requires Listed Building Consent (No fee is charged for these applications).
Please see the section on Listed Buildings for further guidance or contact Conservation on 01789 260304.
Please note that it is a criminal offence to undertake unauthorised works to a Listed structure.
What about trees and hedges: Do special controls apply?
Trees in Conservation Areas have special protection. Tree surgery work (pruning, felling, etc.) should not proceed unless you have given six weeks’ prior notice using the notification form Trees in a Conservation Area.
Further advice is available in the Trees section of the website as well as the relevant application forms.
Please note that you do not normally need permission to cut down or do work to trees that are less than 75mm in diameter (measured 1.5m above ground). Shrub species are also exempt.
Advertising Your Business
Signs need to fit the design of the shop front or building as a whole. Many advertisements in conservation areas will require Advertising Consent to be displayed.
Further guidance is to be found in the Stratford District Design Guide.
Further Information
Please contact the Heritage and Design Team on 01789 260304 or by email at planning@stratford-dc.gov.uk, or by fax on 01789 260330.
