We are currently in the process of producing a conservation area appraisal for Inveraray, and we are looking for your views to help us produce the final document.

You can read the draft conservation area appraisal for Inveraray here (PDF, 3.5mb), and tell us your views either:

• online - by completing the online questionnaire here on the webite 
• by email - by downloading the questionnaire (Word, 37kb), and emailing it to ldp@argyll-bute.gov.uk
• by post: by downloading the questionnaire (Word, 37kb) and sending it to Sheila McKenzie, Argyll and Bute Council, Development and Infrastructure, Manse Brae, Lochgilphead PA31 8RD

The consultation period will finish on 15th September 2012.

Argyll and Bute council are currently preparing a bid to receive funding from Historic Scotland for a Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme (CARS), if the bid is successful such a scheme would run for a 5 year period, providing a designated project officer in Inveraray, education and training with regard to the built heritage and grants for property owners seeking to carry out repairs to their buildings.  As part of the bid and any future CARS scheme it is a requirement that the conservation area has a conservation area character appraisal, and your views will be used to help prepare this document.

What is a conservation area appraisal?

The Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997 states that planning authorities must pay special attention to the desirability of preserving or enhancing the character or appearance of the designated area in making planning decisions that affect the area. A more considered and careful approach is therefore needed in considering development proposals in a conservation area. 

In response to these statutory requirements we are in the process of producing a conservation area character appraisal for Inveraray.The document seeks to:

• Define the special interest of the conservation area and identify the issues which threaten the special qualities of the conservation area
• Provide guidelines to prevent harm and identify opportunities for enhancement
• Provide developers and property owners with a valuable tool with which to inform their development requirements.
• Provide Argyll and Bute Council with a valuable tool with which to inform its planning practice and policies for the area.

This document will be used as supplementary planning guidance and will be used in conjunction with local and national policies relating to development within conservation areas.

What is a conservation area?

Conservation Areas; “are areas of special architectural or historic interest, the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance” from The Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997

Local authorities have a statutory duty to identify and designate such areas.  We have 32 conservation areas in Argyll and Bute, of which 13 have been classified as ‘outstanding’.

The Inveraray conservation area was designated in 1972 as a unique example of 18th century town planning by an improving landowner.  It was later classified by Historic Scotland as ‘outstanding’.