Have your say on the draft Ferndale Road Conservation Area Character Appraisal and proposed conservation area boundary changes

We want your views on our proposals to make changes to the boundaries of the Ferndale Road Conservation Area and on the draft Ferndale Road Conservation Area Character Appraisal. The consultation runs from 30 November 2020 to 11 January 2021. Please share your views with us by email.

The Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 defines conservation areas as ‘areas of special architectural or historic interest the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance’. The Act requires Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) to revisit conservation area designation ‘from time to time’.

There are currently 62 conservation areas in the borough. Conservation Area designation brings with it controls over the demolition of some structures, restrictions on the exercise of some permitted development rights and control over works to trees. The Council can remove further permitted development rights in conservation areas through the making of Article 4 directions if it is considered expedient to do so for the proper planning of the area. Character appraisals describe what makes a conservation area of ‘special architectural or historic interest’. It is considered good practice to have a character appraisal for each conservation area. The Council has a rolling programme for the preparation of character appraisals and at present around half of Lambeth’s conservation areas have one. As part of the process of reviewing conservation area designations from time to time, the Council may revisit the boundaries of conservation areas when preparing character appraisals.

Proposed boundary changes

• Ferndale Road - A historic anomaly at number 4 Ferndale Road sees the boundary running through the middle of the property. It is proposed to re-draw the boundary to include the whole of the building.
• Ferndale Road - At the eastern end of the conservation area it is proposed to remove the former Brixton School of Building and the modern development in its grounds (Vickery House, Beresford House, Lathaby House on Rubens Place) and well as the ordinary Victorian houses on either side (numbers 118a – 164) as these properties do not contribute to the special interest of the conservation area which is focused on the housing with terracotta enrichments erected by George Jennings in the 1870s.

You can view the proposals here

Once consultation closes, all responses received will be given detailed officer consideration before any changes are made to conservation area boundaries.