What is a Conservation Area?
Conservation area designation is a means of recognising the importance of the quality of the area as a whole; this includes all elements of the historic environment not just the buildings, and can range from historic street furniture to landscapes. The special character comes from the origins of the area and its characteristic features and components, their uses and the activities associated with them and their relationship with one another. All features of the area, whether physical or intangible can contribute to the ‘special’ character of the area.
The purpose of Conservation Areas is to manage change in a sensitive way to ensure that those qualities which warranted designation are sustained and reinforced, rather than eroded, as development occurs. Consideration extends to all areas visible from the public realm including the setting of the area and views in and out of the area.
There are eleven designated conservation areas within Havering, all with differing qualities and characteristics. Nine of the conservation areas have up to date Conservation Area Appraisals and Management Plans. These serve to identify the special interest of each conservation area and provide a clear basis for assessing how far planning proposals preserve or enhance their character or appearance.
Development in Conservation Areas
Planning Permission is usually required for any material alteration to the external appearance of a non-residential building, change of use of any building, display of most advertisements in a Conservation Area and the pruning or felling of all trees with a trunk diameter of more than 7.5cm or 10 cm if thinning to help the growth of other trees.
Conservation Area Consent is required for the total or substantial demolition of any building with a volume of 115 cubic metres or more, or of a boundary wall over 1 metre in height adjacent to a road and 2 metres elsewhere within a Conservation Area.
Where the exercise of permitted development rights would erode the character and appearance of the area, the Council can introduce special controls through Article 4 Directions which withdraw some or all permitted development rights. The following Conservation Areas have an Article 4 Direction in place. Further information can be obtained by contacting the
Planning Service:
- Gidea Park Conservation Area - explanation of planning controls.
- Havering Atte Bower Conservation Area - planning permission is required for satellite dishes.
- Cranham Conservation Area - planning permission is required for gates, walls, fences or other means of enclosure.
The contribution that designated Conservation Areas make is a material consideration in the Planning and Conservation Area Consent process. When considering any applications under planning powers in relation to Conservation Areas and their setting, special attention will be paid to the desirability of preserving or enhancing the character and appearance of the building/area or its setting or any buildings or features of architectural or historic interest which it possesses.
Trees in Conservation Areas
You must give the Council 6 weeks notice in writing if you want to carry out work on trees within a Conservation Area with a trunk diameter of more than 7.5 cm (measured at 1.5 metres above the ground) or 10 cm if thinning to help the growth of other trees.
If you want to find out if a tree in Havering is located within a conservation area you can see details on our
conservation area pages or you can
email us or phone 01708 432725. We can usually deal with applications for consent within a week of their receipt.
Havering's 11 Conservation Areas
Corbets Tey Conservation Area
Designated in 1990, Corbets Tey survives as one of the three medieval settlements which originally formed Upminster and has retained its character as a village; the area also contains an important historic landscape and nearby archaeological heritage.
Character appraisal and management proposals
Cranham Conservation Area
Designated in 1968, Cranham Conservation Area, focuses on an important group of historic buildings, forming a hill-top hamlet on a medieval route surrounded by agricultural fields which retain an unusual isolation in relation to the suburban development to the north and west.
Gidea Park Conservation Area
Designated in 1970 and extended in 1989 to include the purpose built railway station, owes its unique character to the efforts of Sir Herbert Raphael in the early 20th century to create a Garden Suburb with a delightful variety of houses by well-known architects of the day complemented by a smaller development of modern style during the inter-war period.
Havering-atte-Bower Conservation Area
Designated in 1968, Havering-atte-Bower Conservation Area is a linear village which grew up on Havering Ridge between the Saxon Royal hunting lodge, which became Havering Palace, and the later Tudor Pyrgo Palace a short distance to the North.
Map of Havering-atte-Bower Conservation Area
Langtons Conservation Area
Designated in 2010, Langtons Conservation Area lies to the north west of Hornchurch town centre. It includes a group of cultural buildings, notably Langtons, Fairkytes Arts Centre, the Queen’s Theatre and the green open spaces around these buildings.
Map of Langtons Conservation Area
(Character appraisal and management proposals coming soon)
North Ockendon Conservation Area
Designated in 1990, North Ockendon Conservation Area protects a surviving village in Havering which has not been extended or engulfed by nearby urban areas. It retains its rural character of two hamlets linked by a footpath across fields to the medieval church.
Map of North Ockendon Conservation Area
RAF Hornchurch Conservation Area
Designated in 1989, RAF Hornchurch Conservation Area is a survival of core buildings from the important period of WWII history to which there is a strong local commitment.
Map of RAF Hornchurch Conservation Area
Rainham Conservation Area
Designated in 1968, Rainham Conservation Area is a priority conservation area which centres on the village core of historic buildings and river-side location which give the village its character.
Romford Conservation Area
Designated in 1968, Romford Conservation Area, to protect the Market Place and group of old buildings at the western end of Market Place and around ancient crossroads at the junction of North Street, South Street, High Street and Market Place.
Map of Romford Conservation Area
Character appraisal and management proposals
St Andrews Conservation Area
Designated in 2010, St. Andrew’s Conservation Area, lies to the east of Hornchurch town centre and is centred on St Andrews Church and churchyard. It also includes Hornchurch Cemetery, The Dell, and parts of Upminster Road and Doggetts Corner.
Map of St Andrews Conservation Area
(Character appraisal and management proposals coming soon)
St Leonards Conservation Area
Designated in 1984 and amended in 1900, St Leonards Hornchurch Conservation Area was originally a philanthropic Victorian Children’s Home. The Conservation Area buildings possess an overall unity of scale and colour, texture of materials and architectural features that creates a complete statement in architectural terms completely different from much of the surrounding suburban development.
Map of St Leonards Conservation Area
Character appraisal and management proposals