The site is located within the designated Ashby Road Conservation Area. Within a conservation area, it is national and local policy to ensure that applications for planning permission shall have special regard to the need to preserve or enhance the character and appearance of the area. The rear roofs of properties on the north side of Rosebery Street, and also largely throughout this conservation area, are characterised by two-storey rear gables, approaching half the height of the roof slopes, and substantial brick chimney stacks, but otherwise uncluttered roof slopes. It is the opinion of the local planning authority that the introduction of a dormer window would be incompatible with the massing and design of the roofscape at the rear of these terraced dwellings and, particularly if repeated, would fail to either preserve or enhance the character and appearance of the conservation area. In this respect, therefore, the proposed development is in conflict with Environment Policy 2 of the Leicestershire Structure Plan, Policies EV/10 and H/17 of the Borough of Charnwood Local Plan and the Government's guidance in PPG 15, Planning and the Historic Environment, (1994).