THE Monmouthshire County Council (MCC) planning committee has voted to endorse a report into Designated Conservation Areas throughout the county.

There are 31 conservation areas in Monmouthshire, alongside 2,200 listed buildings, 169 scheduled monuments, 44 registered historic parks and gardens and three landscapes of outstanding historic interest.

The report, which aims to highlight the special character of the areas to inform their further enhancement and maintenance, and to change certain boundaries, was debated at a committee meeting on 4th January 2016.

18 conservation areas were reviewed by consultants in 2009, a £89k process which was partly funded by a Planning Improvement Grant secured from the Welsh Government.

Many of the areas had not been reassessed since the 1970s.

The area within a conservation area restricts certain development rights, as consent must be given for any substantial demolition of any unlisted building or structure and notice on works to any tree must be given.

Public consultation about the findings were held from September to October 2015, as the report includes recommendations to change certain conservation area boundaries.

155 members of the public attended these public consultations.