The Council designates conservation areas under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 where an area is considered to have special architectural or historic character that should be preserved or enhanced.
There are now 25 conservation areas in Lewisham. They can be very different in character and style. Blackheath was one of the very first conservation areas to be designated in the whole country in 1968 and this was because of the special historical and architectural character that it still has today.
The most recent conservation area is Belmont conservation area which was designated in 2001, together with an extensions to the Blackheath conservation area in the same year.
Once designated, the Council has a duty to seek to preserve and enhance its character and appearance through planning. This means that there are stricter controls in conservation areas. Stricter controls limit the size of extensions, cladding, alterations to the roof and the installation of satellite dishes. Article 4 directions may be imposed by the Council to further control works such as replacing windows, doors, changing roof coverings or development in front gardens.
Conservation area consent is required for the demolition of buildings in a conservation area or walls over 1 metre high. Consent for demolition is not normally granted where a building contributes to the character of the conservation area.
These stricter controls do not mean that new developments are not permitted, but it does mean that all new buildings must preserve or enhance the character of the conservation area by using the highest quality design to complement the surrounding buildings and urban form.