Conservation areas
The borough has a wealth of built heritage in its towns, villages and hamlets; each, with its combination of buildings, spaces and landscape creates a strong and unique character.
In recognition of this, and to protect their individual character, many of these settlements are designated as conservation areas. There are twenty-five in total.
Whilst most conservation areas are confined to the historic core of villages, larger areas include centres such as Royal Tunbridge Wells, Southborough, and Cranbrook.
Designation of an area as a conservation area is about managing change positively, by respecting the historic environment that has been inherited by us, understanding what is special about it, and using this understanding to encourage excellence when adding new layers to it.
Locations
Open our heritage map to search for and view the locations of conservation areas in Tunbridge Wells.
St. James area, boundary features
The Council has made a direction under Article 4(2) of the Town and Country (General Permitted Development) Order which removes certain permitted development rights for the following properties in the St. James area: 1 to 67 (odd) St James Road, 2 to 68 (even) St James Road, 60 to 70 (even) Albion Road, 19A and 21 Granville Road, 1 to 65 (odd) Beulah Road, 2 to 60 (even) Beaulah Road, 52A St James Park, 1 to 9 Georgia Place and Church House, Ferndale. This direction means that planning permission is required for the provision of a hard surface, usually to the front of the house, or the erection, construction, maintenance, improvement or alteration of a gate, fence, wall or any other means of enclosure that faces a highway, no matter what the height.
Consents
If you live in a conservation area you should check what permissions may be required for any development proposals, including works to trees.
Please check our development in conservation areas and trees pages in our planning support services section.
Duties
The Council, together with other agencies and the local community, are the stewards of these important historic assets so that future generations may also be able to enjoy them.
Residents and business people who live and work in such areas take responsibility for maintaining their properties and their gardens, and it is these combined elements which help to maintain the character and appearance of conservation areas.
Research shows that people place a high value on the historic environment – the places in which we live are in many cases layered with years and years of human activity. Each generation inherits this sense of place and should make decisions about the future based on the historic context of this inheritance.
Local authorities are given powers to designate conservation areas as a way of recognising their special character, whether it is architectural, historic, or different combinations of both. It is a celebration of unique characteristics of a neighbourhood or place, which seeks to maintain this without trying to preserve it unchanged. Conservation Area Appraisals are a first step to this in clearly identifying what it is about the character or appearance that should be preserved, but also what could be managed and enhanced, and then setting out the means by which that objective is to be pursued.
The Council's role also is to ensure that development preserves or enhances the historic and architectural character and appearance of conservation areas by promoting good design and applying additional controls over development where appropriate.
It is the aim of the Council to involve residents in the appraisal exercises and to promote community-led appraisal work where possible. Historic England provides detailed guidance on this in their Conservation Areas and Your Home web pages.
Energy efficiency and historic buildings
Historic buildings, including listed buildings, are almost always able to accommodate appropriate measures to make them more energy efficient. The Historic England website has a series of free to download publications with further advice on the various measures that can be taken, and what may need consent.
| Conservation Area | Designation | Modifications | Review / adoption |
|---|---|---|---|
| Benenden | 12 Dec 1974 |
16 Jan 92 20 Apr 05 | Apr 05 |
| Bidborough | 11 Jan 90 | ||
| Brenchley | 27 Jun 69 | 12 Apr 90 | |
| Cranbrook | 8 Jan 71 |
13 Nov 80 16 Jan 92 6 Nov 97 | Jun 10 |
| Frittenden | 12 Dec 74 | 16 Jan 92 | |
| Goudhurst | 13 Feb 70 |
16 Jan 92 13 Jul 05 | Jun 06 |
| Hawkhurst - The Moor | 26 Nov 71 |
16 Jan 92 23 Sep 99 | Sep 99 |
| Hawkhurst - Highgate and All Saints Church | 26 Nov 71 |
16 Jan 92 23 Sep 99 | Sep 99 |
| Horsmonden | 12 Oct 79 | 16 Jan 92 | |
| Iden Green (Benenden) | 2 Nov 73 |
16 Jan 92 20 Apr 05 | Apr 05 |
| Kilndown | 30 Oct 81 | 13 Jul 05 | Jun 06 |
| Lamberhurst | 6 Aug 71 |
16 Jan 92 9 Oct 02 | Jul 02 |
| Lamberhurst - the Down | 16 Jan 92 |
18 Jul 02 9 Oct 02 | Jul 02 |
| Langton Green | 3 Aug 73 | 13 Sep 90 | Jul 06 |
| Matfield Green | 26 Nov 71 | 16 Jan 92 | |
| Pembury | 5 Nov 76 |
11 Jun 92 2 Apr 98 | Apr 98 |
| Royal Tunbridge Wells Broadwater Down designated separately 1989 Molyneux Park designated separately 1983 Pembury Road designated separately 1992 | 7 Nov 69 |
12 Dec 74 All amalgamated 00 Madeira Park / Warwick Park excluded Jun 19 | Nov 00 |
| Rusthall | 7 Nov 69 (as part of Royal Tunbridge Wells) | 16 Nov 00 (separated from Royal Tunbridge Wells) | Nov 00 |
| Sandhurst | 29 Mar 74 | 16 Jan 92 | |
| Sissinghurst | 8 Oct 71 | 16 Jan 92 | Oct 12 |
| Southborough, the Common | 23 Jun 72 |
13 Sep 90 18 Oct 03 | Aug 03 |
| Speldhurst | 3 Aug 73 |
11 Jun 92 10 Jul 06 | Jul 06 |
| Wilsley | 12 Jan 89 | Oct 12 | |
| Madeira Park and Warwick Park | 27 Jun 19 | Jun 19 |