Issue - meetings

Matter for Decision:  

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

In 2010, consultants drafted an Appraisal of the New Town and Glisson Road area of the Central Conservation Area with a proposal to extend the boundary, taking in the areas of modern development that were formerly omitted. The Central Conservation Area was designated in 1969 and part of this area now being appraised was included. There have been a series of extensions to this part of the Central Conservation Area, the last being to the east of Hills Road in 1983. This draft Appraisal provides evidence to illustrate that the New Town and Glisson Road area meets current national criteria, in terms of the special architectural and historic interest for Conservation Area designation, and in addition that sections currently outside the existing boundary are also worthy of inclusion.

A period of public consultation began in December 2011 and finished in February 2012. The broad consensus of opinion was in favour of the proposals as outlined in the Appraisal.

Decision of Executive Councillor for Planning and Sustainable Transport:

Approved the Appraisal of the New Town and Glisson Road area of the Central Conservation Area and to agree the revised Central Conservation Area boundary.

Reason for the Decision:

As set out in the Officer’s report.

Any Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

Not applicable.

Scrutiny Considerations:

The committee received a report from the Head of Joint Urban Design and the Senior Conservation and Design Officer regarding the Conservation Area Boundary Review and Appraisal for Newtown and Glisson Road Conservation Area.

In response to Member’s questions the Head of Planning Services and the Senior Conservation and Design Officer confirmed the following:

(i)                In the area proposed for removal from the existing Conservation Area, newly built or developments underway had their own forms of protection under the CB1 Master Plan, and so did not necessarily meet the criteria for Conservation Area protection. This principle had guided Officer’s recommendations for areas to be excluded from the Conservation Area boundary map (ref Appendix 2 of the Officer’s report). The original reasons for including CB1 land in a Conservation Area (eg industrial uses and related rail infrastructure), had now fallen away as these uses had now gone and the use of the area was substantially changing.

(ii)              Newly built or developments underway as part of the CB1 Master Plan could be included in the Conservation Area, this would provide a duplicate form of protection, as opposed to an additional level.

Councillors requested a change to the proposed boundary of the Conservation Area (ref Appendix 2 of the Officer’s report). Councillor Herbert formally proposed to amend the Conservation Area boundary to include all of the CB1 development around Foster’s Mill for consistency of protection of character.

The committee approved this additional recommendation by 6 votes to 0.

The committee resolved unanimously to endorse the recommendation as amended.

The Executive Councillor approved the recommendation.

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

Not applicable.