The local authority commissioned LDN Architects to carry out conservation area assessments in Cullen, Archiestown, Portknockie, and Findochty.

Conservation areas are designed to help protect the characteristics of an area, including their architectural and historic interests.

Councils are required to undertake and publish comprehensive assessments of conservation areas from time to time and consult with the public on the proposed changes.

Under the proposed changes, Portknockie conservation area will be unaltered.

Archiestown will have some of its modern housing stock removed from the conservation area designation, as will some of Cullen’s homes on Victoria Street.

Cullen’s boundary of the Planned Town Conservation area will be extended to take in the southeast side of Seafield Street and York Place.

The existing large conservation area (the Seatown conservation area) will be split in two to create the Seatown conservation area and the Planned Town conservation area. The Planned Town conservation area will extend to the link with the existing Victoria Street conservation area.

In Findochty, Castle Street, Seafield Street, Mid Street, and Burnside Street will be removed from the conservation area. This section will be detached from the rest of the conservation area by Strathlene Road.

Comments received through the consultation will be taken into account when considering whether to make any changes or revisions to the assessment documents.

The assessments will then be presented to a future committee for adoption and used for the ongoing management of these areas.

Once adopted, the final documents will be published on Moray Council’s website.

Depute chair of the Planning and Regulatory Services Committee, Cllr Marc Macrae, said: “Feedback from our residents will help us ensure their conservation areas are being properly protected and considered in future planning matters.

“Properties directly affected by the proposed boundary changes will receive letters with more information, but I strongly encourage all local residents to get involved and have your say. We’re particularly keen to hear from people who live or have properties in the conservation area to ensure the adopted policies are as useful and practical as possible.”

The four appraisals are available for comments until Friday 19 January.

The consultation documents can be found here. Comments can be emailed to localdevelopmentplan@moray.gov.uk.

A comment can also be made by writing to: Strategic Planning & Development, Council Offices, High Street, Elgin, IV30 1BX.