Countryside and nature conservation

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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
Tree management and preservation orders
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.

Tree management and preservation orders

Tree Perservation Orders

Where the Council considers that a tree or group of trees should be protected it may impose a Tree Preservation Order.

Consent is required from the Council before any work, including pruning or felling, is carried out on any tree which is covered by such an Order. Consent to fell trees protected by an Order will only normally be given where there are sound arboricultural or environmental reasons to do so. In granting permission, the Council may require replanting with a suitable species.

For further information on Trees and Tree Preservation Orders look at the related Special Planning Guidance documents on trees (SPGs) in the Planning Policy Document Library.

The latest position on protected trees

If you or your neighbour owns trees with a Tree Preservation Order (TPO), this is important news.

The position has just recently changed about pruning protected trees where they overhang from neighbouring land. SNC has in the past permitted adjoining landowners to prune back branches and roots of trees where they were encroaching onto their land provided that the works did not prejudice the health and safety of the tree or make it unsightly. This was allowed because there is an exemption on TPOs that allowed works “as far as may be necessary for the prevention or abatement of a nuisance”. But, there has always been uncertainty as to what is meant by ‘nuisance’ because the TPO legislation does not define it. Until recently the prevailing legal opinion has been that ‘nuisance’ is Common Law. This can simply mean encroachment of branches and roots onto adjoining property. As a result, the Council would rarely require that permission be sought for the removal of overhanging branches, provided that the works were carried out in a professional manner.

This situation has changed. A recent legal case in the High Court (Perrin vs Northampton Borough Council) has given clearer direction on how the ‘nuisance exemption’ should be applied. It has been clarified that ‘nuisance’ should be interpreted as being ‘actionable’ in law. This means that any tree cutting works proposed would have to have the effect of preventing or abating actual or imminent damage. For example, roots undermining foundations or overhanging branches damaging a roof.

The overall effect of this is that if parts of your neighbour’s TPO tree is overhanging into your garden and you want to undertake some pruning works, you may only do so without permission should you be satisfied that you are doing only the minimum work necessary to prevent or abate an actionable nuisance. If you want to rely on that exemption, it is strongly advised that you obtain a legal opinion in writing before you do the work in case of the Council investigating alleged unauthorised works, which can result in prosecution with fines up to £20,000 per tree and a criminal record. Works simply to cut back branches and roots because they overhang your property will require an application to South Northamptonshire Council and consent would normally only be granted if the proposed works were for the benefit of the tree.

The Councils’ Arboricultural Officer will be able to advise on the nature and extent of tree work that would be acceptable in line with good industry practice, but cannot make a legal judgement as to whether your case is ‘actionable’ and therefore not requiring an official application. If in doubt, you should make an application or seek independent legal advice or both.

Hedgerows

Consent is required from the Council for the removal of hedgerows in open countryside. It is an offence to remove hedgerow without first obtaining consent.

General

We control work on or the removal of trees and hedgerows and we are working hard to protect native woodland. The felling and restocking of woodlands is carefully controlled to protect the quality of the landscape and its wildlife value.

We have a Landscape Conservation Grants Scheme to help local people carry out small-scale tree planting and other conservation work in areas of open countryside. Northamptonshire County Council also has a Parish Tree Planting Scheme and you can find out more by visiting the County Council website.

We also advise developers on landscaping new developments.

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

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