Agenda item

In accordance with the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, The Council is required to review its Conservation Areas from time to time and to prepare and publish any proposals for the preservation and enhancement of any parts of the District that are designated as a Conservation Area. This report considers whether the Council should designate the Ropsley Conservation Area and adopt the Ropsley Conservation Area Appraisal.

Purpose of report

In accordance with the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, the Council was required to review its Conservation Areas from time to time and to prepare and publish any proposals for the preservation and enhancement of any parts of the District that were designated as a Conservation Area. This report considered whether the Council should designate the Ropsley Conservation Area and adopt the Ropsley Conservation Area Appraisal.

Decision

That Cabinet:

1.    Recommend to Full Council the formal designation of the Ropsley Conservation Area boundary as shown in Appendix A to this report.

2.    Recommend to Full Council the adoption of the Ropsley Conservation Area Appraisal, as part of the Development Plan evidence base and as a material planning consideration.

3.    Recommend that Full Council delegates the decision making to the Assistant Director of Planning to make minor changes, typographical corrections or non-material amendments to the Ropsley Conservation Area Appraisal and associated documents prior to formal publication and to undertake the necessary statutory actions to implement agreed recommendations.

Alternative options considered and rejected

An alternative option was not to expand the Conservation Area; however this may have resulted in a failure to preserve or enhance the historic interest and character of the village and the conservation area as identified in the appraisal. Conservation Areas were defined as “designated” heritage assets in the NPPF for the purposes of local plan making and development management. Designated heritage assets were afforded considerably more protection both in planning policy but also in legislation than non-designated heritage assets.

Reasons for the decision

Section 69(2) of the 1990 Act required local planning authorities (LPAs) to determine which parts of their area possessed special architectural or historic interest and to designate them conservation areas. As the provision of a Conservation Area Appraisal was a requirement as noted in the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, it was recommended to approve the updated documents to provide an up-to-date assessment and strategies for the preservation of the conservation area. The adoption of the Appraisal and Management Plan would allow for the positive management of development whilst safeguarding historic character and appearance.

It was acknowledged that historically, conservation area boundaries have often been drawn too tightly, omitting areas now considered of special interests, especially green spaces and open space, boundary treatment or smaller outbuildings. The appraisal and proposed extension have taken this into account, considering not just the built heritage, but also the wider streetscape and the impact open space has on the appreciation of the village.

If adopted by Full Council, the Conservation Area would become an additional planning consideration for planning applications. There was a guidance document designed to help with planning matters within Conservation areas, and this document would be updated. There was often confusion about the measures that residents could take within such an area; e.g. would they have to replace uPVC windows with a wooden window. In this example, residents might be encouraged to do this, but it was not mandated.

The Ropsley Conservation Area was originally designated in 1981.