Basildon conservation areas

Beacon Planning was appointed by Basildon Borough Council in January 2010 to undertake appraisals of three of the authority's four conservation areas as part of the Council's duty to assess and consult on the preservation and enhancement of conservation areas.

The first aspect of the appraisal work – which was completed at the end of August – saw Beacon Planning on-the-ground in each of the areas surveying, noting and cataloguing aspects of the built and natural physical environment as well as researching the history and archaeology of the area.

This information formed Beacon Planning's initial review to the Council and fed into draft appraisals and management plans for the conservation areas upon which the public consultation – which was conducted by the planning consultancy – took place in September.

Beacon Planning has a track record of work in this specialist field for a range of local authorities including South and East Cambridgeshire, Fenland District Council and Norwich City Council.

Designating a conservation area is an important tool in the management of the historic built environment. The more clearly and comprehensively the special nature of an area is defined and consulted upon, the better it will be valued and looked after by the local community and others with an interest in it.

Beacon Planning was also asked to review the potential for conservation area designations in Dry Street, Langdon Hills and Pitsea and is currently preparing the Reports of Consultation for the Billericay, Great Burstead and Little Burstead Conservation Areas prior to the adoption of the Appraisals and Management Plans by Basildon Borough Council.