Conservation and urban design

Many are statutorily protected as Listed Buildings or Scheduled Ancient Monuments, whilst others are of local interest. Hillingdon also has 30 Conservation Areas and 14 Areas of Special Local Character, providing a focus for the protection and enhancement of the Borough's special character and identity. 

• What we do
• What we deal with
• Listed buildings
• Locally listed buildings
• Conservation areas
• Areas of special local character
• Further advice and information
• Contacts

What we do...

The Conservation and Urban Design Team is responsible for ensuring that the public, Councillors and Council officers have access to relevant information relating to Listed Buildings, Urban Design, Conservation Areas, Areas of Special Local Character and Archaeology. Based in the Directorate of Planning and Community Services, we provide input into applications for Planning Permission, Listed building Consent and Conservation Area Consent as well as information related to heritage aspects of development. The designation of Conservation Areas and Areas of Special Local Character, and the production of Conservation Area Appraisals and Management Plans are also our responsibility.

We work with other Council departments to ensure integration on specific schemes. The team also services and attends the Hillingdon Conservation Forum, comprising Councillors and the Chairs of the local Conservation Panels. This Forum meets six times a year to discuss heritage related matters.

We participate in national events such as the Open House Weekend and the Civic Trust Awards Scheme. Regionally we represent Hillingdon on the West London Urban Design Group and are working with English Heritage on a number of large schemes in the Borough.

What we deal with...

The team deals with queries from the public regarding Listed Buildings, Conservation Areas and Urban Design. This can vary from checking whether a property is listed or in a Conservation Area / Area of Special Local Character to advice about a particular development proposal. This can range from a householder extension to major developments such as those at Heathrow or Stockley Park.

Listed buildings

Currently we have approximately:

• Grade I - 6
• Grade II* - 29
• Grade II - 373

Statutory list of buildings of architectural and historic importance [96kb]

This list is updated frequently.

Local list of buildings of architectural and historical importance

The Local List is intended to recognise buildings of architectural and historical importance that contribute significantly to the unique character of the Borough. Whilst not statutorily listed, these buildings are of good quality design or are historically significant and are important to the local community. 

The London Borough of Hillingdon has an adopted Local List which pre-dates 1990. More recently, some of these buildings have been added to the Statutory List and there are additional buildings that need to be considered for inclusion. A review of the list has therefore been undertaken to take account of these changes and to consider appropriate new additions.

Planning implications

Unlike Listed Buildings, buildings on the Local List do not enjoy statutory protection and are subject to normal planning controls under the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 (amended in 2008). These allow owners to undertake certain minor alterations to properties without the need to submit a planning application. Further information regarding the same is available at www.planningportal.gov.uk/uploads/hhg/houseguide.html.

The inclusion of a property on the Local List does mean, however, that the Council will take into account the building's special local architectural or historic interest when considering planning applications for alterations and extensions. Applications involving the demolition of a building of local importance will normally be refused, unless such works can be fully justified and a replacement building of suitable quality provided.

Hillingdon's Unitary Development Plan (Saved Policies September 2007) includes policies for the protection of Locally Listed buildings. Specific policies are:

BE8: Applications for planning permission to alter or extend statutory listed buildings or buildings on the Local List will normally only be permitted if no damage is caused to historic structures. Any additions should be in keeping with other parts of the building and any new external or internal features should harmonise with their surroundings.

BE12: Statutory listed buildings and others of architectural or historic interest such as those on the Local List should, preferably remain in their historic use. Where planning permission is required, an alternative use will be permitted if it is appropriate to secure the renovation and subsequent preservation of the building, features of architectural or historic interest and setting.

Eligibility criteria for inclusion in the local list

Any site or structure provided it is not already statutorily protected and meets the designation criteria, can be added to the Local List, particularly if it can be shown that it contributes to the character of an area and is valued by local people. The following are the criteria for including buildings, structures or features on the Local List:

I. Authenticity: all suggested buildings or structures should be substantially unaltered and should retain significant original features.

II. Architectural Interest this would include buildings or structures that are:

a) an example of a style of building that is particular to the local area, or a good surviving example of an historic architectural style;

b) designed by notable local, or national architects, engineers or designers; or

c) an example of a particular technological innovation in building type, material or technique.

III. Townscape Significance would include:

d) building groups, structures or features, including groups or terraces of buildings, which help form an attractive local character;

e) good examples of town planning/layout; or

f) notable buildings or structures, on important routes into the area, or key landmark buildings which create a vista or contribute to the skyline;

IV. Historic Interest would include buildings, structures or features that are:

g) associated with an important historic figure, local or national;

h) have strong community or socio-economic development significance, such as schools, institutions or any important part of Borough's industrial and Military history; or

i) are associated with any important local historic events;

Street furniture or other structures can also be included in the Local List, for example, boundary markers, post boxes, memorials, lamp posts and statues. These would be assessed using the criteria above.

The review has been completed and the list was adopted by the council on 27 May 2010. It now includes 292 buildings and sites of local architectural or historic importance from across the borough.  

• More information about the local list »

To find out more about the list please email the Conservation Team on nchakraborty@hillingdon.gov.uk or telephone the Customer Contact Centre on 01895 556000.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank everybody who contributed in the review.

Conservation areas

Currently we have 30 Conservation Areas. This this number will change as we undertake reviews of our existing areas and propose new ones. This is always subject to public consultation so that everyone living or working in the area can have their say.

Since April 2006 Local Authorities have been required to write Conservation Area Appraisals and Management Plans for each of their Conservation Areas. The first four Appraisals and two Management Plans have been completed, and can be found by clicking on the links below.

Conservation areas in Hillingdon

Name	Date of designation	Documents available
Black Jacks and Copper Mill Lock	1975 (amalgamated in 1980)	Map [453kb]
Botwell: Nestles	19.6.1988	Map [504kb]
Botwell: Thorn EMI	19.6.1988	Map [497kb]
Bulls Bridge	c1973	Map [526kb]
Cowley Church (St. Laurence)	1988	Map [470kb]
Cowley Lock	1975	Map [549kb]
Cranford Park	Early 1900's	Map [511kb]
Denham Lock	1975	Map [462kb]
Eastcote (Morford Way)	1989	Map [556kb]
Eastcote Park Estate	2005 upgraded from ASLC	Map [516kb] Eastcote Park Estate Appraisal [1Mb] Eastcote Park Estate management plan [12Mb] Eastcote Park - CA leaflet [655kb]
Eastcote Village	16.2.1970	Map [617kb]
Glen, The	2007	Map [492kb] The Glen, Northwood conservation area appraisal [1Mb] The Glen, Northwood draft management plan [2Mb] The Glen - CA leaflet [887kb]
Greenway, The	1975	Map [514kb]
Harefield Village	1970	Map [717kb]
Harlington Village	31.03.05	Map [710kb]
Harmondsworth Village	1970	Map [471kb] Harmondsworth Village Appraisal [1Mb]
Hayes Village	1970	Map [588kb]
Hillingdon Village	1973	Map [513kb]
Ickenham Village	1972	Map [870kb]
Longford Village	16.2.1970	Map [458kb] Longford Village Appraisal [1Mb]
Northwood Town Centre, Green Lane Conservation Area		Map [523kb] Green Lane Leaflet [13Mb]
Northwood, Frithwood	1989	Map [541kb] Northwood Frithwood Leaflet [8Mb]
Old Uxbridge/Windsor Street	1987 created after amalgamation of Old Uxbridge CA and Windsor Street	Map [559kb]
Ruislip Manor Way	1989	Map [909kb]
Ruislip Village	10.11.1969	Map [570kb] Ruislip Village - CA leaflet [688kb]
Springwell Lock	1975	Map [453kb]
Uxbridge Lock	10.07.03	Map [550kb]
Uxbridge Moor	10.07.03	Map [499kb]
West Drayton Green	10.11.1969	Map [600kb]
Widewater Lock	1988	Map [484kb]

Living within Conservation Areas

Within Conservation Areas, normal 'permitted development' rights (permission granted automatically for certain works to single family dwelling houses) have been restricted, enabling more control over the size, design and location of extensions and alterations. The works over which there are greater controls are as follows:

• Enlargement or alteration of a dwelling house would require planning permission if the extension were situated on the side of the house or have more than one storey or extend beyond the rear wall of the original house;
• Planning permission would be required for cladding any part of the exterior of the dwelling house with stone, artificial stone, pebble dash, render, timber, plastic or tiles;
• Planning permission is required for the enlargement of a dwelling house consisting of an alteration or addition to its roof;
• The siting of a satellite dish on the chimney stack or on the roof slope or elevation fronting a road would require permission;
• Installing, replacing or altering a chimney, or installing a flue, biomass heating system or vent pipes on a wall or roof slope on the principal, or side elevation of the dwelling house, or on an elevation fronting the highway would require permission;
• Planning permission is required for any buildings (e.g. sheds, summerhouses) or enclosures (e.g. swimming pools) within the curtilage of a house if they are situated between the side of the house and its curtilage boundary.
• Planning permission is required for the installation of solar panels on a wall on the principal or side elevation of the house or if visible from a highway, or if it protrudes more than 200mm beyond the plane of the slope of the original roof.

Demolitions

Conservation Area Consent is required for demolition work of a substantial nature or for single buildings over 115 cubic metres, including demolition covered by unimplemented planning permissions. In general, consent will not be granted for the demolition of buildings, which make a positive contribution to the character or appearance of a Conservation Area.

Trees

Trees and other landscape features may contribute to the special character of a Conservation Area. There is a requirement to give six weeks notice (a 'Section 211 notice') to the Council for proposals to prune, lop or fell a tree in a Conservation Area. This allows time for the Council to make a Tree Preservation Order if considered to be appropriate.

The following tree work is exempt from the need to notify the Council:

• dead, dying or dangerous trees - five days notice of the works should still be given, however, unless in an emergency case;
• Council owned trees;
• work on trees with a trunk less than 75mm in diameter; and
• if the removal of a tree or work to a tree will improve the growth of other trees, the work is exempt where the tree trunk is less than 100mm in diameter.

Design

The Council aims to enhance Conservation Areas through its own initiatives and by encouragement and advice to owners who may wish to alter or improve their properties.The following will be particularly important:

• extensions or alterations should not be out of scale with the original house, and should respect the property's original design;
• side extensions should normally be set back from the original building line;
• the original plan of the house should be respected, and there should be a relationship with the original form of the house;
• materials and detailing should match the existing property (eg. existing features, window shapes and sizes, brick arches and eaves details);
• boundary treatment should be in keeping with the street scene; and
• shop-fronts should be of good quality design with appropriate advertisements and signage.

Areas of special local character

Areas of Special Local Character are a local designation, and include areas that possess sufficient architectural, townscape and environmental quality to make them of considerable local value. Currently Hillingdon has 14 Areas of Special Local Character (ASLC), some of which were designated as part of the Unitary Development Plan (UDP) and others more recently as areas have been reviewed.

No.	Name:	Date of designation	Documents available
1	Barnhill Estate	October 2006	Barnhill Estate - ASLC map [507kb] Barnhill Estate - ASLC leaflet [753kb]
2	Dene Road, Northwood	13.11.1989	Dene Road Northwood - ASLC MAP [535kb]
3	Copsewood Estate, Northwood	n/a	Copsewood Estate Northwood - ASLC map [511kb]
4	Gatehill Farm Estate, Northwood	n/a	Gatehill Farm Estate Northwood - ASLC map [541kb]
5	Hillside, Northwood Hills	24.07.2008	Hillside Northwood - ASLC map [707kb]
6	Moat Drive, Ruislip	13.11.1989	Moat Drive Ruislip - ASLC map [492kb]
7	Midcroft, Ruislip	n/a	Midcroft Ruislip - ASLC map [557kb]
8	Garden City, West Drayton	13.11.1989	Garden City West Drayton - ASLC map [526kb]
9	Central Avenue, Hayes	13.11.1989	Central Avenue Hayes - ASLC map [586kb]
10	Hillingdon Court Park	n/a	Hillingdon Court Park - ASLC map [566kb]
11	North Uxbridge	n/a	North Uxbridge - ASLC map [564kb]
12	East & West Walk, Botwell	1999 (demoted from CA)	East & West Walk Botwell - ASLC map [545kb]
13	Old Northwood	31.03.05	Old Northwood - ASLC map [592kb]
14	Orchard View/ Clayton Road	October 2006	Orchard Drive Hamilton Road Clayton Way - ASLC map [497kb]  Orchard Drive - ASLC leaflet [841kb]

The Council's planning policies seek to preserve and enhance the local architectural character and appearance of these areas, and to resist inappropriate development. The designation brings a level of restriction with regard to planning applications, which would seek to protect and enhance the special character of the area. The restrictions would not be to the same extent as those within a Conservation Area and would not affect permitted development rights. When considering proposals for works within an ASLC the following are important:

• Extensions, to side or rear would only be permitted where they are appropriate to the building and would cause no harm to the street scene and the character of the proposed area.
• Porches and front extensions should be subordinate in scale and should not be detrimental to the visual amenity of the street scene.
• The external materials and details of any extension should reflect the materials, design features and architectural style predominant in the area.
• Back-land development is unlikely to be acceptable.
• Boundary treatment should be in keeping with the street scene.

Further advice and information

Good design is high on the agenda of the Conservation and Urban Design Team. The Hillingdon Design and Accessibility Statement provides guidance on residential layouts, residential extensions, shop fronts, the public realm as well as other related areas of design. It can be viewed at Hillingdon design and access statement

For information relating to the built environment and Conservation Areas, Listed Buildings or Areas of Special Local Character you can view Saved Policies - Unitary Development Plan (September 2007) [6Mb]

For general heritage or Listed Building matters you can visit the English Heritage website.

Contacts

Manager of the Planning Specialists Team:

Charmian Baker
Planning Specialists Manager
Tel: 01895 250230
Email: cbaker@hillingdon.gov.uk

For information and technical advice on Listed Buildings, Conservation Areas, Areas of Special Local Character, Design Guidance and archaeology, please contact:

Sarah Harper
Principal Conservation and Urban Design Officer
Tel:01895 250230
Email: sharper2@hillingdon.gov.uk

Nairita Chakraborty
Assistant Conservation and Urban Design Officer
Tel: 01895250230
Email: nchakraborty@hillingdon.gov.uk

For advice on Urban Design and Public Realm issues please contact:

Margaret Gustafsson
Principal Urban Design Consultant
Tel: 01895 250230
Email: mgustafsson@hillingdon.gov.uk.