Totnes residents urged to have say on future of historic conservation area

South Devon residents are being asked to share their views on the future of Totnes as part of a new review by South Hams District Council.

The council has published a draft ‘Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan’, which sets out how the town’s historic character and architecture should be protected and managed.

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Members of the public can have their say on proposals for another five weeks, until the consultation closes on Sunday 26 April 2026.

Totnes, a market town at the head of the River Dart estuary, has a conservation area intended to safeguard buildings, streets and spaces of special historic or architectural interest.

Totnes Conservation Area was one of the first areas designated by Devon County Council in 1969. 

The boundary was further extended in 1985, 1992, and 2007 to incorporate designations of further listed buildings. 

South Hams District Council say they are conscious of their duty to review their conservation areas ‘from time to time’ resulting in this review.

The new appraisal updates a previous document produced in 2007, with much of the historical background remaining unchanged, but including proposed extensions to the conservation area boundary.

Three areas suggested for inclusion are Leechwell Garden and the nearby modern housing at the junction of Heath Way and St Katherine’s Way, four terraces on Maudlin Road, and three terraces on Somerset Place and Brooklands.

The document shared by South Hams District Council also includes general guidance on building conservation and an updated management plan for the area.

Residents are asked in the consultation whether they support the proposed boundary changes, whether the revised boundary fairly reflects the extent of the conservation area, and which aspects of Totnes’ heritage they consider most important.

These include historic interest, architectural quality, notable buildings and associations with prominent figures.

People can also suggest additional areas for inclusion or exclusion and propose future projects related to the conservation area.

The council says the appraisal looks at “the architectural quality and historic interest that makes Totnes special” and will help guide planning decisions affecting the town.

An Executive Committee meeting discussed the appraisal on 5 March 2026 as part of the review process.

Comments can be submitted through an online survey, and respondents are asked to provide an email address to validate their response.

South Hams District Council says email details will only be used for project updates and can be unsubscribed from at any time.