Conservation and Design

Rother District has a rich architectural legacy, including as it does the historic market towns of Battle and Rye, the Victorian and Edwardian seaside town of Bexhill-on-Sea, a host of picturesque villages, listed buildings including many isolated farmsteads dispersed throughout the High Weald, together with modernist buildings from the 1930s and 1960s, and some strong examples of contemporary architecture.

Over 82% of Rother District lies within the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, while there are 10 designated Conservation Areas and some 2,500 Listed Buildings in the District.

On these pages, you will find information and advice relating to Building Conservation and Design.

• Conservation Areas

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  Listed buildings

  A listed building, in the United Kingdom, is a building that has been placed on the Statutory List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest. In this section find more information on Listed Buildings, and the Council's Listed Building Advice Note, with useful contacts.

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  Traditional historic farm buildings

  Rural Rother has a rich legacy of traditional farm buildings, often reflecting locally distinctive historic agricultural practices, including oast houses, fine timber-framed barns and modest brick cowsheds, which contribute to the picturesque landscape character of the area. In this section find links to Historic England's guidance on maintenance and repair of traditional farm buildings, and adapting and reusing.

• Energy Efficiency and the Building Regulations in Historic Buildings

  In this section find more information on the Historic England guidance produced to help prevent conflicts between the requirements of Part L of the Building Regulations and the conservation of historic and traditionally constructed buildings.

• Bexhill Town Centre Shop Front Design Guidance

  Following the completion of the highly successful Heritage Economic Regeneration scheme in Bexhill town centre, the Council has adopted shopfront and signage design guidance to ensure the continuation of the achievements of the scheme in improving the visual appearance and the vitality of the town centre. Find more information in this section.

• Guidance to Making Applications in Historic Settings

  The English Historic Towns Forum provides a guide that is particularly relevant to those involved in making planning applications within historic towns, conservation areas or sites close to Listed Buildings.

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  A Design Wayfinder

• Article 4 Directions

  Restrictions on permitted developments.