Greater Recognition agreed for Sevenoaks Heritage sites

Sevenoaks Heritage news article

Greater recognition agreed for Sevenoaks heritage sites

Heritage sites in the Sevenoaks town are set for extra recognition after Sevenoaks District Council agreed the Local List at a Cabinet meeting on 20 April.

The items on the list have been identified as part of what makes Sevenoaks town special and their inclusion on the list will form part of the Council’s planning guidance with their significance being considered when deciding planning applications.

The list was put together by volunteers from the award winning Sevenoaks Society, who surveyed every street in the town noting every building, structure or space of local historical or architectural significance before submitting them to a panel of experts for assessment.

Listed Buildings are not included on the list due to their existing level of high protection, with most of the structures and spaces forming the Local List predating 1945.

Following an initial public consultation, from the first tranche, there are currently 333 entries equating to 464 individual structures listed with the Council’s Cabinet agreeing to support a second tranche for consultation on more assets.

Cllr Robert Piper, the Council’s Cabinet Member for planning, says: “We have worked very hard with Sevenoaks Society to draw up this list and we’re very pleased the hard work has paid off.

“Residents in Sevenoaks town are very fortunate to have so much quality architecture and history and this list will offer greater protection, helping preserve it for future generations.

“We will now look forward to hearing the views of the public at the second consultation on other assets and continue the work to one day roll the process out across the District.”