Conservation area planning permission - design access statement?

[Brandnewbrighttomorrow]

We have an unlisted Victorian house in a conservation area, the windows are poor quality 1970's ones and we're planning to replace with proper timber custom made sashes and casements. I have the planning application form for the conservation area, but it states that a design access form is required. Anyone know what this is?

if you go to the Planning section of your local authority's website, you can trawl through a few similar applications and see what they typically say.

By chance I was sent one yesterday as part of a PP pack, it says something like "although there are steps to access the front door, there is good access around the ground floor"

It could have said that there is a ramp to the back door built into the decking at the back of the house and accessed via the side gate (which there currently is) so I presume it is not a big deal if you are talking about a private house.

p.s. most of the form is taken up with flannel describing the house and the area, there is just a paragraph right at the bottom saying that, it actually ends

Access for All
Although the entrance is via a stepped threshold, the hallway, cloakroom and living areas are well proportioned and would be easily adaptable for the less ambulant and wheelchair users if required"

its the bit where you get to say how everything you are doing fits in with conservation area,trad materials etc. think through all the possible objections you could get and use this bit to rebut them.

I have just had to complete one for a log cabin in my garden.Basically you have to justify replacing the windows.how they are going to fit in with the surrounding environment[other houses,road etc.].Will they match the original windows?,timber treatments etc.We included several photos of the existing area and the prospective improvements which i think helped.If you can download pictures of the new windows this will help.Piglet John is right though-it is largely flannel dressed up!.Good luck

Here is a good page describing what is required:
www.planningportal.gov.uk/planning/applications/howtoapply/whattosubmit/designaccess

It gives this useful summary:
"A DAS should explain the design principles and concepts that have been applied to particular aspects of the proposal ? these are the amount, layout, scale, landscaping and appearance of the development."

I wrote a 1 page version for my DH's work application for rebuilding an existing boundary wall. As long as you clarify that there are no changes to access or layout, and deal with how you have chosen the windows/why they are appropriate for the house/area then that is all that is required. Less is probably more for a small application such as this.

Oh yes - call the duty planning officer and grill them on exactly which forms and which applications should be provided. Our local office delight in waiting 8 weeks to spring obscure extra forms on us (they have done it 2 out of 2 applications now) so that they can avoid registering and getting on with the processing, resulting in long delays. Blinking annoying but seems to be part of the usual game!

Good luck

Find one on the internet - using planning portal for a similar house/area/development - and C&P the relevant bits.

Oooh, thank you all very much, particularly for the links and the tip about checking which forms required. First time applying for pp without an architect so rather clueless!