Conservation and Design

The Conservation and Design Section's prime purpose is to protect and enhance the built heritage and environment of North Norfolk, both now and in the future. This not only involves conserving and restoring the most important aspects of our past, but also includes a commitment to shaping our future heritage through good contemporary design that respects "local distinctiveness" and character. A key factor in this is the North Norfolk Design Guide that both outlines the historic influences that have shaped built form in the district, and that provides a clear statement of the design expectations of the Council.

The Conservation and Design Section provides the following services:

• Offering advice and guidance to those who wish to repair, maintain, alter and extend historic buildings. This can involve pre-application discussions with the public, developers and their professional agents, or helping with negotiations on formal Planing, Listed Building and Conservation Area Applications.

• Retaining up-to-date records of the District's Listed Buildings and managing its Conservation Areas, including the preparation of Conservation Area Appraisals and enhancement schemes.

• Running conservation area-based regeneration schemes in the District's town centres, including the current Townscape Heritage Initiative in Cromer and the completed projects in Fakenham and North Walsham. These schemes involve offering building repair grants, and securing environmental improvement in the public realm.

• Administering the annual Graham Allen Awards that recognise and encourage excellence in the conservation and design of the built environment in North Norfolk.

• Assessing the effect of development proposals on Scheduled Ancient Monuments and Historic Parks and Gardens. These services are carried out in association with Norfolk Landscape Archaeology, English Heritage and the Garden History Society.

• Sponsoring workshops and conferences that raise awareness of the importance of our built heritage, and demonstrating how to protect this resource through the use of traditional materials and repair techniques.

If you require any further information regarding our built heritage, please contact North Norfolk District Council's Conservation and Design Section: Tel: (01263) 516131/516138/516165 or Fax: (01263) 514802 or email: conservationanddesign@north-norfolk.gov.uk