Decision details

Decision:

The Cabinet recommends that Council

1. Confirms the Article 4 Direction for Stamford Conservation Area as drafted and attached as Appendix 1 to report number DM15 and to cancel the existing Warrenne Keep Article 4 Direction, both effective from 1 December 2018
2. The introduction of a fee of £206 for each planning application arising from the Direction
3. That any income surplus generated from the designation of this Article 4 Direction is ringfenced for future investment within the area covered by the Direction.

Reasons for decision

1.            Report number DM15 of the Cabinet Member for Growth and Communications including the draft Article 4 Direction for Stamford Conservation Area (attached as Appendix 1 to the report)

2.            The decision made by Cabinet on 12 April 2018 to approve the commencement of a formal process to remove permitted development rights for specific types of development within the Stamford Conservation Area

3.            The increasing number of alterations being carried out under permitted development rights that may be harmful to the character and appearance of the Conservation Area

4.            Feedback from a period of public consultation on the proposed introduction of an Article 4 Direction for Stamford Conservation Area including written representations and feedback from drop-in sessions

5.            Comments submitted by Stamford Town Council and Stamford Civic Society

6.            The proposed £206 fee was the same as the fee payable by householders for an application for works that are not permitted development

7.            The proposed application fee was intended to cover the cost of processing an application

8.            Comments made by Growth Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 17 October 2018

9.            The equality analysis attached as Appendix 3 to report number DM15

Other options considered and rejected

To not designate an Article 4 Direction or for the Direction to apply to a smaller area. However, there has been no area-wide control over permitted development across the Stamford Conservation Area since it was first designated in 1967 and there has since been a gradual erosion of the architectural details and of historic fabric to a significant number of unlisted buildings to the detriment of the character and appearance of the Conservation Area as a whole.