▁November ▁ 1 9 9 7 . ▁As ▁of ▁March ▁ 2 0 1 3 , ▁it ▁is ▁one ▁of ▁eight ▁conservation ▁areas ▁in ▁the ▁bor ough ▁of ▁C raw ley , ▁although ▁a ▁consult ation ▁is ▁on going ▁which ▁could ▁result ▁in ▁five ▁new ▁areas ▁being ▁designated ▁( two ▁of ▁which ▁are ▁extensions ▁to ▁existing ▁conservation ▁areas ). ▁The ▁definition ▁of ▁a ▁conservation ▁area ▁is ▁a ▁princip ally ▁urban ▁area ▁" of ▁special ▁architect ural ▁or ▁historic ▁interest , ▁the ▁character ▁or ▁appearance ▁of ▁which ▁it ▁is ▁des irable ▁to ▁preserve ▁or ▁enh ance ". ▁Such ▁areas ▁are ▁identified ▁according ▁to ▁criteria ▁defined ▁by ▁Se ctions ▁ 6 9 ▁and ▁ 7 0 ▁of ▁the ▁Pl anning ▁( List ed ▁Build ings ▁and ▁Conserv ation ▁Are as ) ▁Act ▁ 1 9 9 0 . ▁C raw ley ▁Bor ough ▁Council ▁adds ▁to ▁the ▁stat ut ory ▁definition ▁by ▁stating ▁that ▁the ▁status ▁is ▁granted ▁on ▁the ▁basis ▁of ▁" a ▁number ▁of ▁factors ▁and ▁does ▁not ▁sole ly ▁relate ▁to ▁the ▁age ▁of ▁the ▁buildings ; ▁for ▁instance ▁architect ural ▁interest ▁and ▁setting ▁of ▁an ▁area ▁are ▁also ▁important ▁factors ." ▁In ▁grant ing ▁conservation ▁area ▁status , ▁the ▁Council ▁aim ed ▁to ▁" prote ct ▁the ▁distinct ive ▁character ▁and ▁appearance ▁of ▁the ▁Al m sh ouses ▁and ▁their ▁land sc aped ▁trees ▁and ▁gard ens " ▁and ▁to ▁ensure ▁that ▁any ▁development ▁in ▁the ▁surrounding ▁area ▁was ▁appropriate ▁and ▁had ▁no ▁negative ▁impact — es pecially ▁as ▁to ▁the