upper gordon road to church hill, camberley conservation area

Introduction
This leaflet explains the purpose of conservation areas and the
implication of their designation for residents, property owners and
the Council. It provides you with a plan of the area and a brief
history and appraisal.
Information Leaflet
UPPER GORDON ROAD TO
CHURCH HILL,
CAMBERLEY
CONSERVATION AREA
The Upper Gordon Road to Church Hill, Camberley Conservation
Area was designated in October 1989. The boundaries were
subsequently revised to include parts of Church Hill in April 2004.
What is a Conservation Area
A conservation area is defined in section 69 of the Planning (Listed
Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as an ‘area of special
architectural or historic interest the character or appearance of
which it is desirable to preserve or enhance’.
The character of conservation areas can vary considerably but they
are usually historic areas centred on listed buildings. However, it is
the overall character of the area that is recognised as important, not
just individual buildings. All the elements which combine to give an
area its special interest are important including the street pattern,
open spaces, trees, mix of uses, as well as groups of attractive
buildings and characteristic materials.
There are at present nine conservation areas designated in Surrey
Heath. These include village centres such as Bagshot, urban areas
such as Upper Gordon Road/Upper Park Road, Camberley, and
buildings set within historic grounds such as Bagshot Park and the
former RMA Staff College, Camberley.
‘leading for tomorrow’

The Upper Gordon Road to Church Hill, Camberley
Conservation Area
This area, to the south east of the town centre, is characterised by
large, late 19 th century and early 20 th century houses. It is an
important representation of the growth of Camberley during this
period and constitutes one of the few remaining unspoilt
Victorian/Edwardian environments close to the town centre.
Upper Gordon Road (north side)
This side of the road comprises a row of detached and semidetached
Victorian/Edwardian houses of varied design and in
varying stages of preservation. This group of buildings are
recognised for the part they play in demonstrating the pattern of
development referred to previously.
Upper Park Road (south side)
This area of Upper Park Road is characterised by a number of very
large detached and semi-detached Victorian houses (pre1899) of
varied design in substantial, well-treed gardens. They are largely
unaltered and form a pleasant group in an arcadian setting.
‘Chartley’, on the south side of the road is a little later in date, being
1906, and is a very attractive ‘Arts and Crafts’ style house, a style of
great importance within Surrey.
Upper Gordon Road (south side)
This side largely comprises five pairs of good Victorian semidetached
villas, dated circa 1897/98. Collectively, they represent a
good example of this period of Camberley’s growth and are
relatively rare in the local scene, by virtue of their uniform design
and largely unaltered appearance. Their setting has been a little
spoilt by modern development outside the conservation area at the
east end, and built prior to its designation.
Upper Park Road (north side) and 1 Upper Gordon Road
Here can be seen a number of very large, detached and semidetached
Victorian/Edwardian villas of varied design. Largely
unaltered, although some have been adversely affected by
modernisation/alterations. The buildings form a pleasant group in
largely well landscaped front gardens and form a backdrop to the
houses in Upper Gordon Road.
Chartley
Branksome Park Road (south side) and Church Hill
The properties known as Dolphin Hill, Farley Hill and The Yarrows,
together with modern houses set within their original plot
boundaries, are additions to the conservation area. Dolphin Hill and
Farley Hill, built in 1899, together with The Yarrows built 1896-1901,
are large attractive properties built in 1899, set in large plots,
although reduced in size by modern development.

The Character of the Upper Gordon Road to Church
Hill, Camberley Conservation Area
This conservation area has a high proportion of good Edwardian
villas that retain most of their original character. There are five
aspects which are particularly important to the preservation of this
conservation area:
♦ The original pattern of development with clear plot
boundaries.
♦ The pleasant residential nature of the environment.
♦ The architectural details of the buildings.
♦ The boundary walls and hedges.
♦ The arcadian feel of the east end of the conservation area.
Pattern of Development
The pattern of development as given by plot sizes, boundaries and
densities is another very important factor in the appearance and
character of this conservation area.
Whilst there are no listed buildings, or landmarks providing
important views, some buildings have been locally listed. The
importance of this area lies in the group value of the buildings,
rather than in their individual architectural merit.
The conservation area comprises houses of four standards. Those
closest to the railway are the smallest; those on the up hill side of
Upper Gordon Road are larger; those facing Upper Park Road are
larger still; and on the opposite side of the road and Branksome
Park Road/Church Hill area, the houses had lodges and stood in
substantial grounds. This hierarchy is important in establishing the
character of the conservation area. It derives from the quality and
scale of the houses and the amount of space around them. The
change in scale is relatively subtle and it would be easy for this to
be lost through infill and loss of the open space around the
buildings. The open spaces of the gardens are as important as the
buildings in establishing the character of the area.
Residential nature
The area still retains its original residential character, although
some properties have now been converted to other uses, such as
care homes, and densities have increased through conversion to
flats. It is important that the original character be retained, through
the careful control of uses for the buildings, the impact of new uses
on the surrounding gardens, such as car parking requirements, and
features such as signage, which where necessary, should be
discreet.
Architectural Details
There is a high proportion of good Victorian and Edwardian villas
and houses which still retain most of their original character, with
important architectural features such as decorative wood detailing
and red brick pointing to the red brick houses.
Boundary walls and hedges
There are, unfortunately, few original garden walls remaining, but
the design of walls, especially in Upper Gordon Road is important
and requires careful consideration on the part of residents, if the
area is to retain its character.
Trees
Trees, hedges and shrubs are important to the street scene of
major parts of this conservation area, but especially the east end of
Upper Park Road. Within Upper Gordon Road, Branksome Park
Road and Church Hill they soften the urban landscape and
contribute to the pleasant character. The often generous spacing
between buildings also provides many attractive views through.

Design of New Development
To protect the special character of the conservation area, new
buildings, extensions and alterations to buildings should be in
keeping with the character of the area. Particularly high standards
of design will be required and special attention should be paid to
matters such as scale, height, massing, choice of materials and
relationships to open spaces and adjoining plots and buildings. Full
planning applications must be submitted, so that the details of the
proposal and its impact on adjoining buildings can be properly
assessed. Additional information such as elevations of adjacent
buildings and examples of materials and colours may be required.
The Surrey Heath Local Plan 2000 aims to encourage high
standards of design within conservation areas and to make sure
that new development, including changes of use, preserves or
enhances the character of the area and its architectural tradition.
In the Upper Gordon Road to Church Hill Conservation Area, this
means that new development should:
♦ Respect the established scale of the streetscene;
♦ Use traditional materials appropriate to the conservation
area;
♦ Ensure that doors, window frames and other joinery be of
painted timber and reflect the style and proportion of
existing properties;
♦ Respect the traditional roofscape in regard to features such
as chimneys, gables and tiles;
♦ Respect the historic grain and plot sizes of the area and
preserve established building lines and views.
Special Controls in a Conservation Area
The Council has powers to control changes in conservation areas
that do not apply elsewhere, essentially over demolition, some
minor development and the protection of trees. The purpose is not
to prevent any new development but to better manage any changes
so that the special character of the area is not undermined.
Demolition of Buildings
Within conservation areas, conservation area consent is required to
demolish buildings measuring more than 115m³ or gates, walls and
fences over one metre in height which abut a highway, including a
public footpath or bridleway, or two metres in height in other cases.
Demolition of buildings is taken to mean the total or substantial
destruction of a building or structure.
This does not mean that buildings may not be demolished but
rather that the loss of buildings or features which contribute
significantly to the character of the area will be strongly resisted.
There may be scope for the redevelopment of properties which
presently detract from the character of the area.
Minor Development
In order to protect the special character and appearance of our
conservation areas, there are a number of cases where the level of
permitted development allowed is more restricted than in nondesignated
areas. For example, planning permission may be
needed to carry out the following works to houses in conservation
areas:
♦ Any extension to a house which is greater than 50m³ or
10% of the total ‘original’ house size, or that exceeds
115m³;
♦ The addition of any cladding to the exterior of the building,
for example, stone, tiles or timber;

♦ An addition or alteration to the roof, which would result in a
material alteration to the shape of the roof, for example
inserting dormer windows;
♦ The erection of any building with a cubic content greater
than 10m³ within the curtilage of your dwelling;
♦ The installation of a satellite dish on a chimney, wall or roof
slope, which fronts a highway, or on a building which
exceeds 15 metres in height.
You should contact the planning department for advice before
carrying out any work to properties within a conservation area.
Protection of Trees
Trees can make an important contribution to the character and
appearance of conservation areas. Before any works are carried
out to such trees, (including lopping, topping or felling of a tree with
a diameter of 7.5cm or more at 1.5 metres above ground level), six
weeks written notice must be given to the planning authority. This
gives the Council time to decide if a Tree Preservation Order should
be placed on the trees. Where a tree is subject to a Tree
Preservation Order, permission of the Council is needed before any
works to the tree can be undertaken.
Locally Listed Buildings
There are no statutory listed buildings, but the conservation area
contains 16 locally listed buildings:
♦ Lochnabo, 27 Upper Gordon Road
♦ 7-25 (odd) Upper Gordon Road
♦ 39 and 41 Upper Park Road
♦ Heatherbank, Church Hill (No 9 and flats A and B)
♦ Heatherbank Cottage, 11 Church Hill
♦ Church Hill Cottage and Garden Wall, 13 Church Hill
The importance of the area is in the group value of the buildings
and the locally listed buildings provide much of the local character
of the Borough, are buildings of particular merit within the
conservation area, and should be protected and retained whenever
possible. Works to these locally listed buildings require only the
normal planning permission, as applicable in conservation areas. In
considering such applications however, special regard will be given
to retaining the character and appearance of the building.
Advertisements and Shop Fronts
Not all of Surrey Heath’s conservation areas contain commercial
premises but for those that do, advertisement signs and shop fronts
should be of traditional materials and of an appropriate scale and
detail to respect the character of the area.
Enforcement Action
Building works carried out without the necessary planning
permission, conservation area consent or listed building consent
may be subject to enforcement. This can involve an owner in
considerable unnecessary expenditure. You are therefore strongly
advised to check the planning requirements before commencing
works.

Grants
Subject to financial resources being available, discretionary grants
may be available from the Surrey Historic Buildings Trust for certain
repairs to both listed and un-listed buildings in conservation areas.
Further details may be obtained through Surrey County Council,
telephone 020 8541 9419.
Enhancement Schemes
As well as ensuring the preservation of the character of a
conservation area through the control of development, it is a duty of
the Council to prepare and publish proposals for the enhancement
of these areas. Schemes have been undertaken in the past,
notably in Bagshot, and in other areas under the ‘Village and Local
Centre Strategy’.
Building Regulations
The actual construction of most types of alterations and extensions
is covered by Building Regulations, and will probably require
Specific Building Regulation approval. Please contact Building
Control on 01276 707223 for further advice.
Map of Upper Gordon Road to Church Hill, Camberley
Conservation Area

Further Information
Further information is available from:
Head of Built Environment
Surrey Heath Borough Council
Surrey Heath House
Knoll Road
Camberley
Surrey GU15 3HD
Contacts:
Conservation Areas and Listed Buildings
Trees
Principal Planner (Conservation)
Planning Policy and Conservation Team
Tel. 01276 707245
Aboricultural Officer
Tel. 01276 707240
Application forms (Planning, Conservation Area Consent and
Listed Building Consent)
Contact Centre
Tel. 01276 707100
Surrey Heath Borough Council
Surrey Heath House
Knoll Road
Camberley
Surrey
GU15 3HD
Main Switchboard: (01276) 707100
January 2006