ontaining many buildings of historic interest, perhaps with particular features typical of the locality, come when a local authority (with confirmation from the Department for the Environment, Transport and the Regions) makes an Article 4 Direction this means that specifies alterations, from putting in new windows to removing chimney stacks, may not be carried out without consent. Article 4 Directions are particularly appropriate for model housing estates, railway villages, or the fine Georgian terraces of our spa towns. Perhaps their single most important use is to prevent the replacement of original sash windows with disfiguring uPVC frames, the greatest blight of the last two decades.
Some local authorities have designated very few conservation areas. This may not necessarily mean that the area has a scarcity of attractive buildings and open spaces. With a heavy workload and few specialised staff, for some councils conservation has taken second place. However, as with listing applications, anyone can suggest an area for designation.
Try to get the support and interest of the planning officers who will be presenting the case to their committee. Prepare a brief report or booklet about the area - its history and any interesting information about the buildings it contains, some of which may be already listed. English Heritage produces a free publication that outlines the criteria for designation of an area, Guidance on Conservation Area Appraisals, which can be downloaded from their website, or a free copy can be ordered from customer service. Use it to help structure and prepare your report. Take plenty of photographs, not just of individual buildings, but of their settings also - views down streets, through trees and across open spaces such as greens and commons. Be sure to include maps, current and historical ones if you can find them. Use your local library or record office.
Sometimes councils are reluctant to designate conservation areas if they feel the residents will object, but on the whole this is unlikely. Owners will usually see the value of their property increase and it is often a selling point in estate agents' particulars that a house stands in a conservation area. It is helpful to get the support and signatures of some of the residents. The council may want to organise a public meeting to explain what conservation area designation will mean in practice.
Notify the press of your efforts to get a conservation area designated and send them a copy of the booklet you have prepared.
Know of a building at risk that you think should be in next year's catalogue? Then we want to hear from you.
September is a bumper month for SAVE. 2014 marks the 40th anniversary of the landmark exhibition the Destruction of the Country House at the V&A.