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Conservation

Design Issues

Everyone has a slightly different idea as to what constitutes good design. Beauty is, after all, in the eye of the beholder. Nobody has a monopoly on 'good taste'. Experience shows, however, that there are certain principles in the design process which, if adopted, will help to ensure a pleasing result.

New Buildings

When designing a new building, the starting point should be to consider the context of the site. The character and appearance of the surrounding area should be a prime factor in shaping its design, together with the requirements of the proposed use. An assessment should be made not only of the built form, materials and detailing, but also of the character of the spaces between buildings, the form and appearance of the street scene, and the landscape generally. A poor quality environment should not be seen as an excuse for compounding the situation, but rather as a challenge to improve it.

This approach does not mean that all new buildings have to copy older traditional styles. A well-designed modem building which relates well to its setting can constitute an improvement, adding diversity to an area, whilst respecting its context. Each site will, however, be unique, and proposals must take this into account. Standard 'pattern book' designs can only serve to blur the local identity of an area.

The design of all new dwellings should seek to take advantage of solar gain in terms of orientation and location of principal rooms. Buildings with a narrow floor plan allow a much greater penetration of the sun into the house than those with a very deep floor plan.

Extensions to Houses

Changing personal circumstances often create the need to extend a property. Houses have been altered and extended throughout history, in order to meet new demands. It is important, however, to ensure that any extensions are not only functional, but also respect the character of the building and do not adversely affect neighbours. Some buildings will be easier to extend than others, and there may be occasions where it is not possible to extend a house, because of an adverse effect on neighbours, or the impact on the particular character of a building.

Owners and potential purchasers of buildings who are considering extensions should carefully consider the following guidance before submitting a formal application.

• Single storey extensions are usually more acceptable than two storeys, and are normally best located to the rear or side of the building.
• The scale of an extension should not dominate or detract from the character of the building.
• Extensions should match original buildings in terms of materials and detailing.
• Extensions should not have an oppressive or overshadowing effect on neighbouring properties, similarly care must be taken to avoid loss of privacy or light.
• Roof forms should match those of the original.
  
  Garages are best located at the side or rear of the property and should not dominate or detract from the original building.
  
  
• Conservatories are normally best located to the rear of the property, and shallow roof forms should be avoided, for both practical and aesthetic reasons.
• When extending into the roof space, dormer windows should not dominate the roofscape. Roof lights should be kept to a minimum and located on hidden roof slopes.
• Before you commission formal drawings, it may be better to prepare a rough sketch of your proposals and to have an informal discussion with planning officers at the District Council, who will be happy to advise you.

Landscaping

Any new development must take into account existing features on the site such as trees, shrubs, hedgerows, ponds and any changes in level. The aim should be to work with, and around these features, rather than to remove them. This will not only lead to a more interesting design, but will also help to preserve the character and nature conservation value of the area. Hedges also provide both privacy and protection from prevailing winds. Applications for new development will generally require a landscaping scheme, which identifies existing trees and landscape features to be retained together with a scheme for new planting. This should identify the species of trees and shrubs as well as their location. Free specialist advice is available from the Council's Ecology Officer.

Contact

Telephone: (01304) 872486
E-mail: conservation@dover.gov.uk