Areas of character are those within our district with a distinctive character or quality worthy of protection.
We have identified 17 areas of character within the local planning authority area. Identifying these areas helps celebrate their unique character.
Areas of character do not have the same status or level of protection as conservation areas. They will, however, be considered in the planning system. Some thought will be taken about their preservation and enhancement.
Hook Lane and Park Lane Map [pdf] 1MB
Westergate Street 1 Map [pdf] 552KB
The distinguishing features of this Area of Special Character, which includes the Duck Pond, The Pound, Aldwick Farm, Old Place and Aldwick Green, are the heavy, extremely attractive and mature landscaping. The Pound is an important open space at the northern entrance to the village centre. It has historical links with the past and the stream that runs through it.
The Duck Pond is set in secluded and attractive surroundings bounded by clusters of mature trees and grass.
Aldwick Farm and the barn to the north east are both Grade II Listed buildings.
These buildings together with others in the vicinity greatly contribute to this area, and are reminders of what the village was like many years ago.
The mature trees and expanse of grass area extends on both sides of Aldwick Road to the edge of the designated area (Barrack Lane and Gossamer Lane roundabout). Aldwick Green is included due to its expanse of attractive open space.
Old Place merits special attention; although “modern” it is extremely well planned and heavily landscaped. The Grade II listed Old Place house is the focal point of the development. Hedging and flint walls dominate as the boundary feature, and mature trees contribute to the special qualities of the area.
This area is characterised by mature and attractive landscaping which provides a cohesive and informal appearance. The expanse of grass and mature trees on either side of High Trees creates a spacious environment.
Distinctive boundary walling encloses very well landscaped grounds to the properties ‘Woodstock’ and ‘Willow Cottage’ in Fish Lane. This walling shapes the curve of the road and distinguishes between the more spacious environment around the Fish Lane/High Trees junction and the transition westwards where the road changes to Aldwick Street, becoming much narrower.
No’s 1 and 2 Grange Lodge form an attractive matching pair of Lodge Gate houses. They are characterised by distinctive chimneys of angled design; focal points in the area.
Dark Lane is bordered by the high boundary wall, constructed of Bognor rock and flint, very prominent in the street scene. The curve of the wall and the positioning of the trees contribute towards the informal character and semi rural atmosphere and define the shape of the path.
Dark Lane leads directly to the seafront with low density housing dominating. Strange Gardens leads off Dark Lane; this is a most attractive building in North African style. It is set in spacious grounds which are well landscaped. The presence of palm trees contributes towards the property’s Arabic character. The design of the property draws on ‘Moorish’ and Dutch forms and detailing.
Aldwick Street is characterised by flint and stone boundary walling and properties adjacent to the footpath, creating a narrower feel to the street scene. This section of the Area of Special Character is characterised by the Parade of shops, which are of an imposing size. The Ship PH greatly contributes to the attractiveness of the area, and is a prominent building in the street scene.
Set back from Aldwick Street are South and North Lodge, a matching pair. These buildings are single storey, with distinctive and impressive entrance porches and chimneys
Aldwick Street Fish Lane Map [pdf] 307KB
The special character of this area is derived from the mature landscaping and low density residential development of individual design. These buildings are set back from the road with established and mature front gardens.
A pavement runs on the eastern side of Barrack Lane but there is no pathway on the western edge, creating a semi rural character. This area contains many properties of note, especially Thatched Manor Cottage.
The curved nature of Barrack Lane enhances a feeling of rural landscape. The boundary wall of number 74 is a substantial structure, characterised by the ball finials. Coastguard Cottages have a historical significance with this designated area. The 7 cottages, were built by the Admiralty in the period between 1847 and 1851. They were built to house the board of customs, to control the coast and deter local smuggling. These cottages have slate roofs, distinguished by angled chimneys. The high boundary wall fronting the cottages is a marked feature in the streetscape of this area.
Flint boundary walling dominates the road from Coastguard Parade and the Cottages southwards. These are important features, contributing to the overall nature of this Area of Special Character.
This Area of Special Character was first designated in 1995 and was subsequently revised in 1997.
The designated area is substantial in size, incorporating part of Barnham Road and part of Downview Road.
This section is a wide, main road serving the settlement of Barnham. The area consists of a variety of substantial buildings of various styles, predominantly two storeys which are set back from the road within large individual plots.
The collection of Edwardian style dwellings enhances the area substantially; reflecting the growth of the settlement after the completion of the railway junction.
A large number of the houses contribute to the character of this Area of Special Character; these are illustrated on the accompanying map.
Trees and hedges are important in the streetscene. A variety of mature and semimature trees line Barnham Road; the hedges are important for creating a semi-rural character to the area as does the lack of pavement on most of the west side of Barnham Road.
This is an established quiet residential area of low density, consisting of good sized properties, secluded from the road by mature and semi mature trees and hedging. There is no established footway along Downview Road, only grass verges with no formal road markings contributing to an informal character. Each property is individually designed, enhancing this section of the Area of Special Character.
This is an attractive, leafy, low density residential area on the main approach into Barnham from the north-west. The special character derives from the, mainly, large dwellings standing in substantial gardens and grounds and set back from the roadways. The feeling of spaciousness between the buildings is important. There is a considerable amount of mature planting which combined with hedges and the lack of formal pavements over part of the area provide a distinctly mature suburban character.’
This Area of Special Character was designated in October 1996.
This area is characterised by dwellings of generally individual design, several incorporating attractive mock Tudor designs. Dwellings in the main are two stories in height.
It is an attractively landscaped area, with mature planting and grass verges predominating. There is a regular building line and the majority of the buildings are detached, set in their own spacious grounds. There is an appearance of low density and spaciousness about the area with space between buildings being an important feature.
The view from Kingston Lane, across the fields towards Ferring (designated Strategic Gap – Policy Area 10 (II)) contributes towards a semi-rural setting.
Elm Avenue, Golden Avenue (part), Kingston Lane (part), North Lane (part) Map [pdf] 167KB
This Area of Special Character was designated in December 1997.
The nature of the area is diverse, consisting of the private estate along Seafield Road, Palm Court and Coastguard Cottages (part of South Strand).
1 – 8 Coastguard Cottages all contribute greatly to the character of this area. They are of simple design, rendered with slate roofs and have attractive lead covered porches. These are set back from the road with a paved frontage and small hedges screening them from the road. These cottages are of historical importance to East Preston. They were built around 1820 to house customs officers and their families who patrolled the shore to combat the widespread smuggling along the Sussex coast.
Palm Court Cottages, form an attractive gabled terrace with herringbone detailing and mock timber framework. The buildings form a curved enclosure and the boundary walling and hedges are important to this enclosure.
A lack of paving enhances the informal character of South Strand.
The stretch of Sea Road to Seafield Road is a narrow coastal lane with no formal road markings or pavement. This, combined with hedges and small trees, contributes towards an informal character. The road is defined by a flint wall and the view towards the sea is impressive.
The private estate of Seafield Road consists of a wide, informal road with no markings or formal footway. The road frontages are dominated visually by mature hedges, and with trees and hedges within the curtilages, all contributing towards an attractive streetscape with soft landscaping.
The residences on each side of Seafield Road are set back from the road, especially so in respect of some properties on the southern side creating a sense of spaciousness. There is a wide variety of design; each house is individually designed illustrating how the estate has developed over time. The density of this area is very low. At the western end of the road is a medium height wall, forming an enclosure to the estate.
Seafield Road (part), Palm Cottages, South Strand (part) Map [pdf] 158KB
This area was designated an Area of Special Character in October 1995.
This area is characterised by large, mostly Edwardian, detached and semi-detached properties. These properties are substantial and grand in design with decorative barge boards, porches and balconies. The properties are principally 2 ½ and 2 storeys.
There is a regular spacing between the properties and the footway of the designated area, distinguishing between the public and private realms. A mature tree line surrounds Caffyns Field marking a contrast between the open space of Caffyns Field and the surrounding streets. The very attractive open spaces of Caffyn’s Field and Lobb’s Wood form the focal points of this area.
St Catherine’s Church forms an imposing focal point at the southern end of Caffyns Field, and the War Memorial a focus for the northern end and a focal point as you leave the town centre heading towards the seafront. The gardens south of St. Catherine’s Church are enclosed, contrasting with the openness of Caffyns Field. They form an attractive and well landscaped space.
There are a large variety of building materials used within this designated area, principally brick, flint and Purbeck stone and plain clay tiles and slate for the roofs. The use of materials is generally grouped together, for example, Nos. 2, 3, 4 and 5 St. Catherine’s Road all have brick and flint walling and roof slates as their main material.
Fenestration in the area is largely vertically sliding sashes, very few have been replaced with uPVC. An important feature of these properties is the use of finials of varying style and size, and chimneys, both having a positive impact on the skyline.
At the eastern boundary of this area is Lobb’s Wood; an attractive, well managed area of woodland. The irregular shape of the open space dictates the street shape, providing an informal character to this area. There is a consistency in design with Nos. 11 to 17 Fitzalan Road and Nos. 4 and 5, 6 and 7 Granville Road forming matching pairs. The quality of their design enhances the area greatly. Boundary walling especially of brick and flint are important features of this area.
This Area of Special Character was originally designated in October 1995 and later revised in December 1997.
The area is characterised by pleasant, low density development where the height of buildings is generally two storeys.
The inclusion of the library, gives an attractive space and form to the eastern end of Maltravers Road. The orientation of the library is mirrored by 26 Fitzalan Road, emphasising the curved setting of these buildings in relation to the roundabout.
The properties of Maltravers Drive are set back from the road, many in deep, well landscaped plots. The buildings of this road generally have an individual design, some incorporating a colonial design with wooden balconies and terraces. Trees line the road enhancing the appearance of the area, especially the approach to the Maltravers Pleasure Grounds.
St. Winefrides Road contrasts with the individual design of properties in Maltravers Drive, as nos. 32 – 44 have a consistent appearance. However, individual design occurs once more with nos. 17 through to 1 and nos. 19 and 21 Selborne Road. St Winefrides Road is well landscaped and with boundary hedging an important feature. The properties enjoy views over the Pleasure Grounds.
The materials used in this area contribute to its special character. Predominantly brick and pebble-dash have been used and clay tiles for the roof, although other materials are visible enhancing the individual design of the properties.
Maltravers Drive, St Winefrides Road (part), Fitzalan Road (part) Littlehampton Map.pdf[pdf] 231KB
This area was designated in October 1995.
There is a special character to this section of Norfolk Road, contributed to by the mainly large scale domestic buildings of good quality design, set back from the road frontages in a regular building line. Numbers 38 – 68 Norfolk Road are very similar in design, and form a consistent and pleasing group of buildings. Many of the buildings follow the Queen Anne revival style with jettied upper storeys contributing greatly to the individual character of this area. The building form consists of predominantly three storeys on the west side of Norfolk Road and 2 storeys on the eastern side. Regular spacing between the buildings is also a characteristic of the area.
The materials used in this area are varied; there are examples of render, pebble-dash and brick exteriors with plain clay tile and slate roof.
The well planted front gardens and verge area and front walls contribute towards the special character and form an attractive and leafy approach to the higher density Littlehampton Seafront Conservation Area to the south.
All the properties in this Area of Special Character contribute towards its character.
Norfolk Road (part) Map [pdf] 187KB
The South Terrace Area of Special Character was designated in December 1997.
South Terrace stretches along Littlehampton’s seafront; the Area of Special Character includes the portion from Granville Road, westwards to Pier Road. There is a general consistency in height, design, materials and layout, which provide a formal, cohesive and attractive appearance to these groups of buildings. The formality of South Terrace contrasts with the extensive greens and sea. South Terrace forms the edge of Littlehampton, the divide between the seaside and the urban area. Balconies boundary walls, chimney and traditional timber windows, are important contributing features.
This section of South Terrace is formed of 3 storey houses with basements. There is a regular building line along the whole of South Terrace. This section of the terrace incorporates decorative balconies, cornices and parapets. Each building has a bay window on every level. There is a formal character to the terrace, the windows are well proportioned the entrances are grand with steps and stairway columns rising to four panelled doors.
The buildings are principally brick and render with slate and plain clay tiles. Chimneys are distinctive features of the terrace.
This section contains a terrace of principally brick and render. The buildings are three storeys with a ‘jettied’ upper storey. The roofs contain interesting Dutch Gables.
These buildings have side hung casement windows.
The entrance arches have a distinctive rounded shape to them, the steps leading up to the properties from the road and the pillars adjoining the entrance arches and the four panelled doors contribute to the character of these buildings.
This section of the terrace is all three storeys. The buildings have fishscale tile hanging above the first floor bay windows. The third storey windows are Venetian style. The ground and first floor bays have vertically sliding sash windows, the upper sashes being multi-paned.
Distinguishing features are the ornate gables with decorative moulded timber verges and the pairs of lunette windows between the gables. Ornate balconies adorn each building. The entrance stairways are bordered by Ionic columns. The second floor has stone dentil cornice. The roof has plain clay tiles.
This part of the terrace consists of four properties and the Nelson Hotel PH. These buildings are two and a half storeys, and have very decorative barge boards and finials. The windows are vertically sliding sashes and the roof consists of plain clay tiles. The boundary walls comprise of flint and brick with piers bordering them.
The special character of the Middleton-On-Sea Estate derives largely from the low density, spacious, planned concept of Captain Henry Rowlands Starkey Coldicott (1886 – 1980). His vision was a plan for creating not just a residential estate, but also a village community suited to the seaside location. This vision has largely been achieved and is reflected in the designation of this Area of Special Character in October 1996.
The designated area begins at the eastern end of Middleton Road, near the junction with Yapton Road. This is a leafy area, edged by flint walls illustrating the start of the planned ‘Middleton’. The village centre is characterised by the parade of village shops, the first of which to be built was the Post Office/ Grocery Store in 1925. This core area is well set back from the road, with attractive grass verges. The design of these village amenities are in a traditional timber framed style, enhanced by being set back from the road with those on the south side having a substantial grass bank frontage which extends westward to Merry End.
The character along Middleton Road slowly changes to the west; the road widens but the properties are still set back from the road. There is a more formal layout, the properties comprising of 1½ and 2 storeys. Mature landscaping and hedges dominate the street scene.
A focal point of the area is the village pond and green. The green extends on both sides of Sea Lane, to the Grade II listed Manor House on the east and pond on the west.
This is an informal residential lane, comprising a mixture of properties of single, 1½ and 2 storeys. The properties are in similar sized width plots with medium and mature landscaping, consisting of hedges and fencing. The design character of the lane is varied with a variety of materials used, including render, brick, thatch, black stained weatherboarding and plain clay tiles.
Sea Lane has a distinctively rural ambiance. Mature trees, bushes and grass verges add to this rural character. Features of the lane include the Middleton Manor Farm buildings, situated opposite the entrance to South Walk, the Flint Cottage and Middleton Barn.
The raised footpath is a unique characteristic of the lane, acting as a linkage to the sea. Towards the seaward end of the lane, the Grade II listed Flint Cottage (previously two farm cottages) contributes greatly to this location as do the thatched properties of Cornerways and Kesingbourne Thatch, providing an attractive group at the junction of Sea Lane with Sea Way. Boundary flint walling is a key characteristic of the lane.
Properties are situated in large plots, well maintained lawn frontages, mature shrubs and trees are a defining feature.
These streets are attractive with a low density layout and wide variation in design. However, the majority of buildings are of a low aspect ratio, broad and low rather than narrow and tall. Each property has an individual character but incorporates similar height and dimension characteristics. At the junction of South Walk and East Close, there is a cluster of three detached cottages (numbers 14, 16, and 18)
providing a cohesive and attractive group and focal point to the street scene.
This is an informal road, comprising a mixture of building styles. Properties are either 1.5 or 2 stories. Grass verges also add to the character of the area. This road is characterised by the well set back properties of 2 storeys, screened by hedging and boundary walls. There is a distinctive seaside character to the road. A visual focus of this is the curved linear properties at the end of the road.
The distinguishing features of this road are the historically important beach huts, made of timber framed construction with dark stained-weather boarding with open space fronting the sea.
This is a small, informal enclave of 5 dwellings of individual appearance all detached and some with thatched roofs. Hedging is a prominent feature along the front boundaries of the properties and the landscaped roundabout forms an attractive feature.
Merry End is a narrow road way with a mixture of fences but predominantly hedges forming the front boundaries. The area is also characterised by soft verges. Properties on the south side of the road front on to it whilst those on the northern side back on to the road. Properties on the southern side have a relatively consistent building line and are mostly 1 ½ storeys with plain clay tiles, except for “Weston” which has a thatch roof.
The approach to Barton Close is enhanced by The Lamb PH which contributes greatly to the area. On entering Barton Close, a single track lane bordered by grass verges, a semirural enclave is created. The Smithy and Nytimber Forge form attractive entrance buildings to the Close.
The new development ‘Hadlands’ has been designed to be in keeping with the character of the area, a spacious, low density cul-de-sac.
Established hedges, cleft oak fencing and the grass verges are distinguishing features of the rural character. The pond in part of the grounds to Barton Granary (originating circa 1700) is an attractive focal point for the area.
The area includes the historically important Barton Manor and related converted farm buildings, and other attractive buildings at the western end all contributing to the special character of the area.
The character of the Pagham Beach Estate derives from the distinctive scale and height of the residential buildings (single storey, majority with no accommodation in the roofs), the layout of the estate and the form and spacing of the buildings. Pagham Beach Estate was designated an Area of Special Character in October 1995.
The estate displays a mixed quality of design standard between the newer, permanent residential properties and the original holiday chalets and railway carriages. The historic background of the beach estate originates from these railway carriages. A high proportion of the carriages are still visible, many have been encased by later structures but still retain evidence of original features, such as windows.
Although there is a strong linear pattern to the estate, there is an informality and distinctive seaside character to the area imparted through the scale of development, the individual designs of buildings, the unmade roads and the surrounding Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). There is a strong feeling of openness.
The estate is an important feature viewed from the seaward side. The individual design of many of the buildings and the character of the dwellings is appreciated from this view point.
The estate is characterised by a wide range of individually designed properties, both old and new. No.3 West Front Road is a recent example of a new build using very innovative design but still utilising the distinguishing characteristics of Pagham Beach.
Regular plot sizes characterise the area whilst the, albeit, small gaps between the buildings, provide a sense of regularity. The buildings are almost all entirely detached and roof pitches rarely exceed 30º.
There are many areas of open space on the estate, containing a variety of grasses, mature trees and smaller miniature trees as key features. ‘The Dell’ is characterised by an overgrown, natural environment, covered by mature and semi mature trees and shrubs. Pine trees and gorse suited to the exposed weather conditions dominate in this area. This woodland and other open spaces provides an attractive contrast to the built form of the surrounding estate. Roadside verges are also important natural features in the estate and contribute to its informal character.
Individual properties have boundary planting and attractive front garden planting which enhances the individuality of the estate.
The café and amusement arcade form focal points, situated at the core of the Beach Estate. The Yacht Club, an established part of the Beach Estate has a distinctive presence in the area.
In recent years, many of the new developments have lacked individual style; there has been a use of uniform materials with no care taken with roof tiles or brick colour, as examples. Colour washed render and stained boarding are typical traditional materials. The use of brown or red bricks has been less successful than the use of pale yellow stock bricks in new developments.
The use of non-traditional materials e.g. glass, stainless steel, zinc metal, cladding of appropriate colour etc. could be appropriate provided the design is innovative and is reflective of the coastal location.