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Canterbury District has a rich historic and natural environment, including the UNESCO World Heritage Site and the Blean Woods complex, and plays a key role in the economy of Kent, with major employers such as the universities and thriving retail and tourism sectors.
Our ambition is for well-planned sustainable growth, to support a strong dynamic economy, and a distinctive cultural and visitor experience from which local communities will prosper. Development in the district needs to respect and enhance local character with a coherent identity and be heritage-led where appropriate.
Our award-winning Heritage strategy sets out how the historic environment can be protected, promoted and provide prosperity through heritage-led development and regeneration. We promote high quality design and inclusive, well-connected and sustainable places, which in turn can contribute to the development of safe, healthy and resilient communities and successful regeneration.
The Council is committed to working positively with applicants and communities to achieve well designed homes, buildings and places. The knowledge, ideas and aspirations of residents and communities in the district, as well as an understanding and evaluation of an area’s characteristics, are key to developing successful placemaking and design.
We encourage early pre-application discussions, the use of design review and community involvement in design development through workshops or charrettes. In 2021 we launched the bespoke Canterbury Design Review Panel with Design South East, to assess development proposals of larger and sensitive schemes.
We are currently preparing a Design Protocol which will be a step-by-step guide to how the Council will work with applicants and communities to achieve well designed homes, buildings and places, through the promotion of high-quality design, architecture and landscaping.
