Issue - meetings

Matter for Decision:

             I.      The City Council has duties under Section 69 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 to periodically review its Conservation Area designations, boundaries, and consider any new areas, and under Section 71 of the Act to formulate and publish proposals for the preservation and enhancement of these areas.

          II.      Trumpington was the subject of one of the Council’s earliest Conservation Area Appraisals, which was published in 1998. This Appraisal, and the Conservation Area boundary, have been reviewed as part of the Pro-Active Conservation Programme. This work was prioritised because of the development pressures affecting Trumpington.

       III.      Consultants drafted the Appraisal and proposed boundary extensions.  A period of public consultation was held from 23 June to 4 August 2010. The majority of the responses were in favour.  

      IV.      Suggestions have been made for amending the proposed boundary, The recommendation supports some of the suggestions. 

Decision of Exec Cllr for Climate Change and Growth:

Approved the designation of the Conservation Area extensions and the content of the draft Appraisal.

Reason for the Decision:

The Trumpington Conservation Area was designated in 1969. The 1998 Appraisal led to the boundary being extended, principally to include Trumpington Hall and associated parkland.

In recent years Trumpington has been subject to major growth pressures. In the recommendations and conclusions of a 2003 report by Landscape Design Associates on Land West of Trumpington Road, Cambridge: Study to Identify the Potential for Development Through Green Belt Release, it was concluded that the green gap between Trumpington and Cambridge (the Green Belt) is important in retaining the feeling of a small city, dominated by its historic core. The Trumpington Meadows development site immediately borders the Conservation Area, with the Clay Farm and Glebe Farm sites close by. These development pressures, and the consequent traffic and other pressures on the public realm, were factors in Trumpington being identified as Cambridge’s only “Conservation Area at risk” in English Heritage’s 2009 survey.

Any alternative options considered and rejected:

N/A

Scrutiny Considerations:

The committee received a report from the Senior Conservation and Design Officer regarding the extension to the conservation area.  Cllr Znajek read a quote from Chaucer’s, ‘The Reeve’s Tale‘ concerning Symkyn, the miller, who lived in Trumpington. He suggested this fact should be celebrated in the conservation appraisal.

Members discussed the inclusion of a crescent of 1950’s shops included in the appraisal. The officer explained that it was included following discussions with English Heritage and due its relationship to the open space attached. The officer clarified that the owners of building within the area are not routinely notified individually.

Cllr Blair noted the defensive nature of the comments from Cambridgeshire Highways. She has high hopes that a reduction of street furniture would vastly improve the appearance of the area. 

The Scrutiny Committee considered and endorsed the recommendations in the report unanimously.

The Executive Councillor for Climate Change and Growth approved the recommendations.

Conflicts of interest declared by the Executive Councillor (and any dispensations granted)

N/A