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Heritage and Conservation
South Northamptonshire has some of the country’s loveliest countryside and many historic buildings and monuments.
We have a number of services to protect the district and we work with others to protect, develop and improve this heritage.
For more information about conservation areas call us on
Telephone: 01327 322265
Email: heritage@southnorthants.gov.uk
Team Leader, Planning Policy & Heritage
South Northamptonshire Council
Springfields
Towcester NN12 6AE
Click on the links below to find out more about what we do, and how we can help you make the most of what we have got in the district.
- Ancient monuments, historic buildings and landscape
- Design standards for new builds
- Conservation areas
- Improving and conserving the environment
- War memorials - grants
Ancient monuments, historic buildings and landscapes
You will find some useful information on historic buildings and landscapes, listed buildings, registered historic parks and gardens, scheduled ancient monuments and so on, on Northamptonshire County Council’s website.
We now look after Bury Mount, the remains of an 11th century earthwork motte and bailey fortification in Towcester.
This scheduled ancient monument has been thoroughly investigated and is part of plans to regenerate the bigger Moat Lane area in Towcester. Click here to read the planning brief for the site (insert link to planning brief)
Design standards for new builds
Working with local people, we have set high standards for the design of all new buildings in line with the traditional characteristics of the area. We have produced planning guidance notes on residential design in the countryside and village design statements.
You can download them from the Planning Policy Document Library.
Conservation areas
There are 50 conservation areas in the district which are of special architectural or historic interest.
They are: Abthorpe, Adstone, Alderton, Aynho, Blakesley, Blisworth, Brackley, Bradden, Brafield, Bugbrooke, Castle Ashby, Chacombe, Charlton, Chipping Warden, Cogenhoe, Cosgrove, Courteenhall, Croughton, Culworth, Deanshanger, Denton, Evenley, Eydon, Farthinghoe, Gayton, Grafton Regis, Greatworth, Harpole, Hulcote, Kings Sutton, Kislingbury, Litchborough, Little Houghton, Maidford, Marston St Lawrence, Middleton Cheney, Milton Malsor, Moreton Pinkney, Nether Heyford, Newbottle, Overthorpe, Passenham, Rothersthorpe, Stoke Bruerne, Sulgrave, Thenford, Tiffield, Towcester, Weston, Wicken, Yardley Gobion and Yardley Hastings.
There are stricter planning rules to protect the character of these areas. If you want to knock down a building in one of these areas you will need our consent, for example. Trees are also protected and we need six weeks written notice of plans to do work on a tree.
Improving and conserving the environment
We have grants for town and parish councils to spend on improving public space in their areas.
We are also part of the Northamptonshire Canal Partnership with Daventry District Council, British Waterways and local Parish Councils which was formed to look after local canals.
Wildlife also faces many threats. There are 12 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) in the district where flora and fauna is protected. There is also a National Nature Reserve at Whittlewood Forest, a Local Nature Reserve at Farthinghoe and a number of county wildlife Sites.
We work to make sure that any new housing developments fit in with the area, and we work with English Nature and the Wildlife Trust for Northamptonshire on this.
War memorials - grants
English Heritage and The Wolfson Foundation, have a grants scheme for the repair and restoration of freestanding war memorials in England. There are grants available of up to 50% of the repair costs up to a maximum of £10,000.
For details contact the War Memorials Trust on
Telephone: 020 7259 0403
Website www.warmemorials.org
The Conservation Officer
War Memorials Trust
4 Lower Belgrave Street
London
SW1W 0LA
Related links
- The Environment pages in Northamptonshire County Councils Online Mapping System provides data on Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas
- English Nature website
- The Wildlife Trust
- Woodland Trust
- Northamptonshire Environment Network (Northamptonshire Conservation and Landscape Forum)