New Rodmersham Conservation Area Agreed

Councillors have agreed to designate a new conservation area in Rodmersham Church Street.

Swale Borough Council’s proposal to create a new conservation area around the church was agreed at last week’s cabinet meeting (Wednesday 16th March).

Cllr Mike Baldock, cabinet member for planning at the council, told SFM News: “After reviewing the nearby conservation areas at Turnstall and Rodmersham Green, it was clear that the thirteenth century, grade I listed church, the collection of grade II listed buildings and surrounding orchards at Rodmersham Church Street would benefit from the protection of a conservation area. We went to public consultation on the proposed conservation area for Rodmersham Church Street in November and received valuable feedback from the parish council and local residents".

Cllr Baldock went on to add: “Following the consultation, we moved our proposed boundary northwards to include Ashgores House after feedback from the parish council and several residents expressed the importance of the period building as a visual gateway into the hamlet. We also received a request to include Rodmersham House but the vast gap of landscape between the house and the church does not meet the Historic England criteria for inclusion in a conservation area, however, not including the Rodmersham House cluster does not diminish the significance of the listed building or its historic and ongoing connection with the church-centred hamlet.”

Cllr Alastair Gould, deputy cabinet member for planning at the council, told SFM News: “A conservation area is an area of special architectural or historic interest and it’s our job to preserve the character of the buildings, road layout, landscape, paths and boundaries all included within the boundary. Now that councillors have agreed to the new conservation area, we’ll register the area with Historic England and publish the details on our website.”

For more information about conservation areas in Swale you can visit the council's website at: https://swale.gov.uk/planning-and-regeneration/heritage-and-landscape/conservation-areas