Deal Middle Street Conservation Area
Article 4(2) Direction
The architectural and historic importance of
the Middle Street Deal Conservation Area has long been recognised.
In 1968 it was the first Conservation Area in Kent to be designated
and since that time the boundary has been extended three times. Its
distinctive character is typified by the central axis of mainly
Georgian terraced houses clustered around Middle Street; changing
as you move towards Deal Castle, to grander Victorian villas.
If the special character of the town is to be preserved then it
is important that buildings are repaired using traditional
materials, Inappropriate repairs and alterations not only spoil the
appearance of the area but can also devalue a property.
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 and mean that extra care will need to be taken so
that alterations do not unintentionally spoil the appearance of the
street. The new controls are known as an Article 4(2) Direction and
cover the whole of the Middle Street Conservation Area, the
boundary of which is shown on the map.
Why Introduce the Changes?
The new Article 4(2) Direction will reinforce the Council's
ability to protect the special character of the town. 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 the District Council control over a
variety of alterations to unlisted dwelling houses.
In summary, planning permission will now be required for changes
to windows doors, roof materials and chimney stacks; the painting
of facades, and the construction of external porches; the provision
and removal of walls and fences and the provision of hard
standings.
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 best way of preserving the character of a building is to
repair it using traditional materials, If you repair your house
using identical materials then there will be no change to the
external appearance and planning permission will not be
required.
New Planning Controls
The new Direction will require the submission of a planning
Application for the following items of work, on a single unlisted
dwelling house in the Deal Middle Street Conservation Area, where
the works front a highway, waterway or open space:-
- The enlargement, improvement or other alterations of the house.
This includes changing windows and doors;
- Any alteration to the roof This includes the provision of roof
lights and dormer windows and the substitution of clay tiles or
natural slates with concrete or other materials;
- The erection or construction of a porch outside any external
door;
- The provision within the curtilage of a dwelling house or any
new buildings or alteration of any existing ones.
- The provision of a hard surface e.g. to provide a car park in
the front garden;
- The erection, alteration or removal of a chimney on the house
or on a building within its curtilage;
- The erection, construction, maintenance, improvement or
alteration of a gate, fence, wall or other means of enclosure;
- The painting of the external masonry (or other walling
material) of any part of the house (or building or enclosure within
the curtilage of a house). For the a avoidance of doubt this does
not include the routine repainting or masonry or other walling
material in the same colour;
- The demolition in whole or part of any gate, fence, wall or
other means of enclosure.
- The installation, alteration or replacement of a satellite
antenna on a dwelling house, or within the curtilage of a dwelling
house.
Planning Applications
If you do need to apply for panning 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. Such applications do not require a fee
and a decision normally takes between 5 to 8 weeks from the date of
submission.
Listed Buildings
If your building is listed then you will require Listed Building
Consent for both internal and external alterations and extensions.
To check if your building id listed, please contact the
Conservation Section of the District Council, the telephone number
is given below.
Further Information
We can be contacted either by writing to:
Conservation Section
White Cliffs Business Park
Dover
Kent
CT16 3PJ
Tel: (01304) 872486
E-mail: conservation@dover.gov.uk
