Tarbert Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan
Argyll and Bute Council · 18 November 2025
Back to Planning, Protective Services and Licensing Committee — 18 November 2025 and its agenda
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL PPSL COMMITTEE DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC GROWTH 18th NOVEMBER 2025 TARBERT CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISAL AND MANAGEMENT PLAN 1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1.1 The purpose of this report is to seek Member approval to consult on the draft Tarbert Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan. 1.2 Conservation areas are designated under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997. Local planning authorities should designate and review existing and potential conservation areas, and these should be supported by Conservation Area Appraisals and Management Plans. Further to a recent review of Tarbert Conservation Area as part of work to support funding applications for a proposed Tarbert Heritage Regeneration Scheme, a draft Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan has been produced (Appendix 1). 1.3 Planning authorities have a duty to submit their proposals for the preservation and enhancement of conservation areas for consideration to a local public meeting, and should, when preparing schemes, seek the advice and views of local residents and community groups. 1.4 A 6-week consultation period is therefore proposed to run between 5th January and 16th February 2026, with a drop in event proposed to be held on 14th January. RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that Members: Agree to the consultation of the draft Tarbert Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan, noting a consultation period of 6-weeks is proposed, which would run between 5th January and 16th February 2026, with a drop in event planned to be held on 14th January.
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL PPSL COMMITTEE DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC GROWTH 18th NOVEMBER 2025 TARBERT CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISAL AND MANAGEMENT PLAN 2.0 INTRODUCTION 2.1 The purpose of this report is to seek Member approval to consult on the draft Tarbert Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan. 3.0 RECOMMENDATIONS 3.1 It is recommended that Members: Agree to consultation of the draft Tarbert Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan noting a consultation period of 6-weeks is proposed, which would run between 5th January and 16th February 2026, with a drop in event planned to be held on 14th January. 4.0 DETAIL 4.1 The draft Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan (Appendix 1) was produced in support of funding bids to National Lottery Heritage Fund and Historic Environment Scotland for a proposed Tarbert Heritage Regeneration Scheme. Submissions were made to each funder in August 2025 and are now subject to a period of review, with decisions expected in early 2026. If successful, a heritage-led regeneration project would be delivered in Tarbert between 2026 and 2031. 4.2 Conservation areas are designated under the Planning Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas (Scotland) Act 1997. A conservation area can be described by its character and seeks to protect the buildings and the spaces between that are of architectural or historic interest. Its purpose is to ensure that any development or alteration positively contributes to the area’s character.
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4.3 The definition of a conservation area is contained within Section 61 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997 as, “an area of special architectural or historic interest, the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance”. Local planning authorities should designate and review existing and potential conservation areas, and these should be supported by Conservation Area Appraisals and Management Plans. A draft Tarbert Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan has therefore been produced. 4.4 Tarbert Conservation Area was established in 1972 and extended in 1977. As a dynamic and constantly evolving entity, the review of existing areas is required and provides opportunity to assess the justification for the designation, consider the validation of boundaries, identify opportunities for enhancement and set management priorities. The purpose of the recent review was to define and evaluate the character and appearance of the existing conservation area to support funding bids for a Tarbert Heritage Regeneration Scheme and also assess whether the conservation area would benefit from extension. Its boundary was reviewed in 2019, and in 2024 with no amendments proposed. 4.5 The purpose of a Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan is to define what is important about the area’s character and appearance in order to identify its characteristics and special features, and to explain this in a clear and meaningful format. Subsequent to a period of consultation, the draft document will be amended to reflect comments received, before being brought back to PPSL for approval. Once finalised, the document would provide a framework for the positive management of change and provide a material consideration to support planning decisions. The draft Tarbert Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan accompany this report as Appendix 1. 4.6 A consultation period of 6-weeks is proposed to run between 5th January and 16th February 2026, with a drop in event planned to be held on 14th January. Consultation questions would be hosted on the council’s website, and advertised via press release, social media and by email notification to local organisations, such as Tarbert and Skipness Community Trust and the Community Council. Hard copies of the draft document would be made available at Manse Brae and Tarbert Library, and a draft would be provided to Historic Environment Scotland. 5.0 CONCLUSION 5.1 Conservation areas are designated under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997. Local planning authorities should designate and review existing and potential conservation areas, and these should be supported by Conservation Area Appraisals and Management Plans. A draft Tarbert Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan has been produced and should now be subject to a period of consultation.
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5.2 This report therefore recommends that members agree to a 6-week public consultation to ensure that the document can incorporate feedback and best serve to preserve and enhance the special architectural or historic interest of the area. 6.0 IMPLICATIONS 6.1 Policy – Sections 61-63 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997. 6.2 Financial – None. 6.3 Legal – None. 6.4 HR – None. 6.5 Customer Service – None. 6.6 Risk – None. 6.7 Climate Change – None. 6.8 Fairer Scotland Duty – None. 6.9 Equalities - protected characteristics – None. 6.10 Consumer Duty – None. 6.11 Island Communities – None. 6.12 Children’s Rights and Wellbeing – None. Kirsty Flanagan, Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth Policy Lead – Councillor Kieron Green 17th September 2025 For further information contact: Lorna Pearce, Senior Development Officer, 01700 501 374 / Kim de Buiteleir, Senior Planning and Strategies Officer, 01546 604 126 APPENDICES Appendix 1 – Draft Tarbert Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan