We are a long-established group of local architects, heritage professionals and residents who volunteer their time and knowledge to help preserve and enhance the historic assets of the City of Canterbury. We promote good design that will complement and support the heritage that is contained in our buildings and urban townscape.

Whenever CHDF formally objects to a planning application, it asks the relevant Ward Councillor(s) to “call in” the application, to a planning committee meeting, and CHDF may then send a representative to the meeting to put our case. A call in may mean that the planning and conservation officers negotiate changes, improvements or a redesign to an application which answers our concerns and makes a proposal compliant with policy.

It should be emphasised that we also comment favourably on applications, either in terms of their design, or on the form of the applications themselves, when drawings, a piece of analysis, or a design merit this. 

A good example is the masterplan for Christ Church University on which we were consulted. This seeks to improve both the visual and pedestrian connection between St Martin’s Church and the Cathedral, opening up a view not seen for 200 years, as part of the redevelopment of the former prison site.  We considered this a very good piece of modern urban design and an exciting redevelopment, which should contribute positively to our future heritage, although we objected to the proposed roof top plant design on the grounds that it causes significant harm to the World Heritage Site.
UPDATE An April 2024 application by the University to retrospectively remedy this oversight was approved by the Canterbury City Council planning committee and we now await to see whether rebuilding will significantly reduce the harm.