Policy WK2:

At the urban area of Tunbridge Wells the prime consideration in the quantity, rate and location of development will continue to be the conservation of the built and natural environment, the setting the town, traffic constraints, and its location within the Green Belt.

Policy ENV15:

"The character, quality and functioning of Kent’s built environment will be conserved and enhanced. Development should be well designed and respect its setting. Development would be incompatible with the conservation or enhancement of the character of a settlment, or detrimental to its amenity or functioning, will not normally be permitted. The character, setting and separation of towns and villages will be protected."

Policy ENV17:

"the primary planning policy towards conservation areas is to preserve or enhance their special character and appearance (including buildings, related spaces, topography and vegetation). Development which would harm that special character will not normally be permitted."

Policy EN1:

2. the scale, layout, density (including site coverage by buildings), design roofscape, materials and landscaping of the proposal would respect the context of the site;

Policy EN5:

"Proposals for development within, or affecting the character of, a conservation area will only be permitted if all the following criteria are satisfied:

1. the proposal would preserve or enhance the buildings, related spaces and vegetation which combined to form the character and appearance of the area;
2. the sitting of the development would be similar to adjoining building frontage liens where this is important to the character of the conservation area;
3. the layout and arrangement of the buildings would follow the pattern of the existing development and spacing of adjoining plot widths where this is important to the character of the conservation area;
4. the scale, massing, use of materials, detailing, boundary treatment, and landscaping would preserve or enhance the character of that part of the conservation ware in which the proposal would be situated;
5. the use, or intensity of use, would be in sympathy with the character and appearance of that part of the conservation area in which the proposal would be situated;
6. the proposal would not result in the loss of trees, shrubs, hedges or other features important to the character of that part of the conservation area in which the proposal would situated; and
7. in meeting the car parking and access requirements, the character and amenity of the area would not be adversely affected."

Policy EN6:

"Proposals for development which would have an impact on a skyline will only be permitted where it would cause no significant harm to important skyline features or to the character of the skyline in terms of massing, height, the spacing of development or its landscaping.

Policy ENV19:

"In the control of development and through policies and proposals in local plans:

1. listed buildings will be preserved and their architectural and historic integrity and the character of their settings will be protected and enhanced.
2. changes of use will normally be permitted where these would provide the best possible means of conserving the character, appearance, fabric, integrity and setting of listed buildings.
3. in the case of demolition/substantial demolition (which will only be permitted exceptionally and where there is strong justification) or where alterations would lead to the destruction of part of the fabric of a listed buildings, appropriate arrangements may be required for investigation and recording by an approved building recorder or archaeologist."

Policy EN3:

"Proposals for the conversion, alteration, extension or change of use of a listed building, or any development which affects its setting, will only be permitted where there would be no significant adverse impact on its architectural or historic character or its setting judged in accordance with the following criteria:

1. the impact upon whose features which give the building its special architectural or historic interest;
2. the effect that the use would have upon its fabric;
3. the merits of alternative uses and whether these are more compatible with the building’s special character;
4. the scale, height, mass, materials and alignment of any new building in relation to the listed building;
5. the impact on views of a historic skyline; and
6. whether the proposals would produce substantial planning benefits for the community including economic regeneration, environmental enhancement or contributing to the upkeep of a historic building.

Policy EN1:

"All proposals for development in the Plan area will be required to satisfy all of the following criteria:

1. the nature and intensity of the proposed use would be compatible with neighbouring uses and would not cause significant harm to the character or amenities of the area of the amenities of adjoining occupiers through unacceptable loss of privacy, daylight or sunlight or unacceptable noise, smell, safety or health impacts or excessive traffic generation;

Policy EN1:

3. the proposal would not result in the loss of significant buildings, related spaces, trees, shrubs, hedges, or other features important to the character of the area;

Continue to read about the Re-development of Telephone House

The re-development of the Telephone House, York Road / Church Road, Tunbridge Wells

For more information on the Telephone House Debacle