Appendix 1 Land Allocations Local Plan

Dover District Council
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Land Allocations Local Plan Adopted 2015
3.138 The focus for this Area of Change is to encourage greater public access to and the
interpretation of the Monument. When considering how to accommodate new uses on the
Western Heights, where possible, the existing structures should be carefully adapted and
re-used taking into account the nature and level of significance as well as the appropriateness
of the proposed new uses. Any development proposals need to ensure that they do not
detract from, and are in keeping, with the setting of this important historic asset.
3.139 Visitor circulation between the components of the Western Heights fortifications and
links to the town are currently impeded in many instances. In order to assist with this it would
require the removal of vegetation from ditches and the main fortifications. This would enable
visitors to the Western Heights to enjoy and walk along the bottoms of the defensive ditches.
It would also facilitate legibility of the historic military circulation routes around the site and
the defensive principles that informed the development of these important fortifications to
be more fully understood and enhanced. The removal of vegetation from the Heights' southern
slopes and returning them to chalk grassland as part of a co-ordinated land management
strategy for nature conservation that would improve the legibility of fortifications. Care would,
however, need to be taken to ensure that any measures to control grazing animals (e.g.
temporary fences) do not damage significant remains or detract from the setting of the
defences.
Broad Objectives:
Produce a Master Plan and vision for the long-term future of the Western Heights;
Promote awareness and understanding of the Fort in conjunction with the other heritage
assets in Dover through public and voluntary partnerships to coordinate management
and to devise a programme of improvements and seek funding;
Promote the Fort as part of a package of defence themed visitor attractions;
Use the historic character of the place to inform any future development and create a
sense of place;
Investigate development proposals, particularly those which support tourism and
encourage additional visitors, that help to secure a long term sustainable future for the
Fort;
Ensure that any development proposals are informed by the significance of the
Monument and its component parts;
Wherever possible, new and sustainable uses should be found for the existing heritage
assets in order to ensure their long-term future;
Support proposals that increase the significance of this Scheduled Monument and the
internal relationships between the component parts of the Monument and their setting;
Encourage greater public access to and interpretation of the Monument;
Retain the openness of the interior of the Scheduled Monument, particularly between
the two Forts, which is an essential part of its character, and as such should be retained;
Support a co-ordinated land management strategy for the slopes of the Heights in order
to improve the interpretation of the fortifications;
Investigate and identify sufficient and suitable access, parking and sustainable transport
arrangements; and
Investigate and propose means of improving the wildlife value of the open areas within
the Fort, and improve their connectivity with the wider Green Infrastructure network.