We have 48 conservation areas and over 2500 listed buildings.
As part of our duties, we are reviewing our Conservation Areas.
The quality and interest of an area is assessed by looking at the:
- historic layout of boundaries and routes
- characteristic materials and forms
- mix of uses
- contribution of recent developments
- hard and soft landscaping
Designation helps to recognise the individual importance and links of all these factors.
They are places of special architectural or historic interest that are given protection to ensure that people can continue to enjoy their character for years to come. We are responsible for deciding which places in the former North Dorset District Council area should be conservation areas and for making sure that their special qualities are safeguarded.
List of conservation areas
Our List of Conservation Areas is supported by Conservation Area Appraisals (CAA) and other documents:
- Kington Magna CAA
- Fontmell Magna CAA
- Colesbrook conservation area designation report 27 Sept 2017
- Appendix A Colesbrook tree and landscape photographs
- Appendix B Colesbrook trees and landscape map
- Wyke CAA
- Tarrant Valley CAA
- Milton Abbas CAA
- East Compton Area Appraisal
- West Compton Area Appraisal
Information relating to other conservation areas can be found within these planning documents and Blandford Forum Conserve and Enhance
In addition, reports are available within the Dorset Historic Towns Survey for Blandford Forum, Cerne Abbas, Milton Abbas, Shaftesbury, Stalbridge, Sturminster Newton and Gillingham.
Maps of conservation areas
View the North Dorset conservation area maps.
Extra protection for conservation areas: article 4 directions
An article 4 direction restricts the scope of permitted development rights either in relation to a particular area or site, or a particular type of development anywhere in an area.
Where an article 4 direction is in effect, a planning application may be required for development that would normally have been permitted development. Article 4 directions are used to control works that could threaten the character of an area of acknowledged importance, such as a conservation area.