Several Arun villages could see changes to the way their areas are protected, with Arun District Council looking to update its conservation area guidance.

Draft reviews for Poling West, Poling East, Lyminster, Eastergate Square and Eastergate Church Lane are being put forward for public consultation.

The council says that many of its existing conservation area descriptions were last produced or reviewed around 2000 and now require updating.

The Arun district currently has 29 conservation areas and this work aims to bring the council’s evidence base up to date.

Arun says that many of its existing conservation area descriptions were last produced or reviewed around 2000

placeholder image — Arun says that many of its existing conservation area descriptions were last produced or reviewed around 2000

A report to the planning policy committee states that the new draft reviews are particularly necessary due to significant development pressure on ‘sensitive areas’.

Once the conservation area appraisals are adopted they will be used to inform future planning applications.

The biggest proposed changes would be seen at Lyminster, where the council looks to expand the current conservation area to include the ponds at Knucker’s Hole. It will also bring in a group of historic houses at the eastern boundary including the Old Vicarage.

There would also be a small change to the southern boundary of the Eastergate Church Lane conservation area.

No changes are proposed for the two Poling boundaries.

Poling’s conservation areas cover parts of the medieval village including the Grade I listed St Nicholas’ Parish Church, the Grade II listed Manor House and a number of historic houses.

The draft appraisals were approved by the council’s planning policy committee on September 3, with a public consultation due to take place for at least four weeks.

Any comments received during the consultation will be considered before the documents are finalised.

The council plans to adopt the appraisals by December 2026.

This latest set of reviews is the fifth set the council has considered and once completed will mean 13 of the 29 areas have been reviewed.

The council confirmed the work is being funded from existing Planning Service budgets.