PARISH OF – DESIGN STATEMENT

OLVESTON, , , , LOWER HAZEL,

The Design Statement was written, edited and produced by the Olveston Parish Design Team – an independent group of local volunteers.

In January 2002 a public meeting was called by Olveston Parish Conservation Society to discuss inappropriate development in the Parish. Over 115 parishioners attended the meeting. The meeting concluded that the preparation of a Village Design Statement would be a practical step the community could take to set out design principles for new development which would be more in keeping with the character of the parish.

A Working Group was established and a questionnaire, seeking views on development related issues, was distributed to all 743 households. Over 30% of households responded. A Web Site was created and drafts of the design statement posted on it. A Community Workshop was held to report findings and to discuss key issues emerging. In January 2003 a full draft of the Design Statement was put on display in the Parish Hall (25th January 2003). All households were invited and over 200 people attended.

The Design Statement was launched on 6th March 2004. All households were subsequently provided with a copy.

Following the launch the Convenor wrote to South Council asking that the Design Statement be formally adopted as Supplementary Planning Guidance.

Officers of the Council subsequently prepared a report for Executive Decision. The report was published as a proposed decision, which became implementable on 23rd August 2004. The Decision was:

“That the Olveston Village Design Statement is endorsed by the Council as reflecting the local community’s aspirations for the treatment of design issues in Olveston Parish, which will help to inform preparation of supplementary policy by the Council and be treated as a material consideration in the determination of planning applications, but is not adopted as formal Supplementary Planning Policy.”

The reasons for the decision were: “To encourage high quality development that respects the local character and context of Olveston and is consistent with Design Policy D1 and other relevant policies of the Local Plan Revised Deposit Draft June 2002. To enable the Design Statement to be used to support the Local Plan, Supplementary Planning Policy, the South Gloucestershire Community Strategy and to help inform the determination of planning applications.”

The Design Statement is therefore recognised as a material consideration in the determination of planning applications.

The Design Statement is not a Council published document.

Copies are available to view at the Council’s Castle Street, Thornbury Office. Copies are also available to view on the web site: http://www.olveston.com/villagedesign/

The Design Team can be contacted by Email at: [email protected] Printed copies are available from the Design Team at £5.00