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Kingsdown Conservation Area

Kingsdown Conservation Area Character Appraisal

The appraisal was formally adopted as a Local Development Document on 5 October 2015.

The extensions to the conservation area boundary recommended at section 1.6.1 of the appraisal were the subject of a separate consultation in accordance with the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990. The extensions were agreed and adopted on 29 February 2016.

Map showing the revised Kingsdown Conservation Area

Article 4(1) Direction

The recommendation, at section 1.6.3 of the appraisal, that an Article 4 Direction be made to limit permitted development rights was the subject of a separate consultation pursuant to the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015. The proposed Direction was confirmed by the Council on 5 September 2016.

If you are the owner or tenant of a commercial property, or if you own or live in a flat you will already need planning permission for most external alterations. Similar controls now apply to dwelling houses in the Kingsdown Conservation Area and this means that extra care will need to be taken so that alterations do not unintentionally spoil the appearance of the conservation area.

The new controls are known as an Article 4(1) Direction and cover the whole of the Kingsdown Conservation Area.  

Why Introduce the Changes?

The new Article 4(1) Direction will reinforce our ability to protect the special character of the village. Additionally it will remove some of the anomalies, which currently exist between controls on single family dwelling houses, and all other types of property.

How are you affected?

The new Direction gives us control over a variety of alterations to unlisted dwelling houses. Planning permission will now be required for certain works as listed below. These controls do not relate to the whole building, but only to those elevations which front a highway, waterway or public open space, and which therefore, affect the public face or faces of the building.
The new Direction will require the submission of a planning application for the following items of work, on a single dwelling house in the Kingsdown Conservation Area, where the works front a highway, waterway or open space:
  • The enlargement, improvement or other alteration of a dwelling house.  This includes changing doors and windows
  • Alteration to the roof of a dwelling house
  • Erection or construction of a porch outside any external door of a dwelling house
  • Installation, alteration or replacement of a chimney, flue or soil and vent pipe on a dwelling house
  • Installation, alteration or replacement of a satellite antenna on a dwelling house or other structure within the curtilage of a dwelling house
  • Erection, construction, maintenance,improvement or alteration of a gate, fence, wall or other means of enclosure, within the curtilage of a dwelling house
  • Painting of the exterior of any building
  • Demolition in whole or part of a gate, fence, wall or other means of enclosure.

If you do need to apply for planning permission we will aim to ensure that your proposal does not detract from the special character of the conservation area and each application will be treated on its own merits. A decision normally takes between 5 to 8 weeks from the date of submission.

Listed Buildings

If your building is in the Kingsdown Conservation Area and also listed then you may require Listed Building Consent in addition to planning permission.

Check if your building is listed »

Further information

Contact us

Telephone: 01304 872486
Email: conservation@dover.gov.uk