The County Council is not supportive of the removal of the former clause 4, which stipulated that any alterations should be sympathetic to the existing character of the building or its historic fabric or features. Many of Thanet's rural buildings have a heritage interest either individually or as part of complexes. Where this is so, interest should be safeguarded through careful and sympathetic alteration and the requirement for this is entirely appropriate to this policy. KCC recommends that th

Object to the removal of the reference to a building's distinctive features or listing has been removed. The wording is markedly milder and does not provide enough protection to these important rural buildings.

The modification is welcomed and supported

MM097 – object; the removal and replacement of bullet 4 will weaken the protection of heritage assets, a number of which are likely to be impacted by this policy