Conservation Areas
The Policy and Conservation Team offers guidance and advice to owners, agents, researchers and the general public on a range of conservation issues, including appropriate repair methods for historic buildings. The Countryside Team deal with landscape and wildlife conservation issues.
Our Customer Service Officers handle general queries. For example, whether a building is listed or if a property is within a conservation area. For further information, visit the Council Offices, Knowle, Sidmouth; opening hours are 8.30am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday.
Conservation Officers may give more detailed advice on the extent of listing and specific proposals including repair and alteration of listed buildings.
For advice on schemes that will require planning, listed building or conservation area consent please contact the development control team in the first instance. Development control officers will then liaise with conservation officers. In some instances the District Council will also seek the advice of English Heritage.
Conservation Areas
The District Council has powers to declare an "area of special architectural or historic interest, the character or appearance of which it is desirable to conserve or enhance to be a Conservation Area". Such declaration introduces a general control over the demolition of unlisted buildings and provides the basis for policies designed to preserve or enhance all the aspects of character or appearance that define an area's special interest. Apart from a few minor exceptions, no building can be demolished without prior approval (conservation area consent) and six weeks notice must be given if any tree is to be cut down or lopped.
There are 33 designated Conservation Areas within East Devon, covering the historic areas of many towns and villages. - 
To view a list of Conservation Areas and the date of designation please click here. (49KB - PDF Help)
Click here to download a Conservation Area Consent application form.
