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Historic Environment Wrexham Local Development Plan 2013 - 2028 TOPIC PAPER 7 - FEBRUARY 2016 Historic Environment housing open space employment community transport education www.wrexham.gov.uk / www.wrecsam.gov.uk Historic Environment Topic Paper 1 Introduction This document is one of a series of Topic Papers that has been produced in support of the Local Development Plan Preferred Strategy. The purpose of each paper is to provide supporting evidence to underpin the preparation of Wrexham County Borough Local Development Plan (LDP). Each Topic Paper demonstrates how it links into the LDP vision and relevant objectives, provide an analysis of particular issues that the subject area needs to respond to, including the national policy context, a review of local policy, current circumstances and trends, and finally highlights the implications for the Preferred Strategy and Deposit Plan going forward. There will inevitably be a degree of overlap between some topics and issues, where there are links to other papers this will be highlighted accordingly. All the papers can be viewed on the Council website at http://wrexhamldp.wrexham.gov.uk 2 Local Context and Characteristics Wrexham has a rich and diverse heritage that is evidenced in its wealth of historic buildings, landscapes, towns and archaeology that represent the historical development, growth and adaptation of Wrexham County Borough and the wider area over many centuries. These physical remains are important to the cultural identity of the County Borough and help provide an understanding of the area’s history for present and future generations. The historic environment of Wrexham County Borough is central to our culture and character. It is an important asset that contributes to local identity, sense of place, civic pride, quality of life as well as economic vitality through tourism and leisure and through regeneration initiatives. It is very important that the historic environment is appreciated, protected, appropriately managed and is accessible to all for the general well-being of present and future generations.1 Wrexham County Borough contains internationally, nationally and locally important assets that require management and protection through national and local frameworks. Key heritage assets include: Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal World Heritage - The borough contains a significant portion of the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal World Heritage Site which was inscribed by UNECSO in 2009 onto the World Heritage List. The inscribed site extends across 3 administrative boundaries forming a linear corridor which extends from Gledrid Bridge 1 Planning Policy Wales ‐ Chapter 6: The Historic Environment Pg1 Para 6.1.1 (January 2016) http://cadw.gov.wales/docs/cadw/publications/historicenvironment/150429planningpolicychapter6‐en.pdf in Shropshire, through the south eastern corner of Wrexham and to Horseshoe falls to the east of Llangollen in Denbighshire.2 Trevor Basin which provides access to Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, along with Fron Basin and Chirk are important tourist and visitor hubs for the World Heritage Site; Listed Buildings – There are over 1040 buildings and structures included on the statutory list of buildings of special architectural and/or historic interest ranging from castles, country houses, cottages, shops, farm buildings, bridges, churches, industrial buildings, memorials, milestones, gravestones and many other buildings and structures; Archaeological Heritage – There is a wealth of archaeological interest within the county borough with 104 sites or buildings designated as Scheduled Ancient Monuments (SAMs) of national significance. This is a statutory designation with management and protection undertaken by Cadw. There are also many sites of archaeological interest which have no statutory designation, however are of local importance to Wrexham’s heritage. Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust maintains a comprehensive Historic Environment Record that provides details of such sites within the County Borough; Conservation Areas – There are 23 designated Conservation Areas within the county borough which have been made in recognition of the desirability to enhance and preserve the special architectural and historic interest of an area. Conservation Area designations exist in Bangor on Dee, Bersham, Cefn Mawr, Chirk, Erbistock, Fairy Road, Gresford, Grosvenor Road, Hanmer, Hightown Barracks, Holt, Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog, Marchwiel, Marford, Minera, Overton, Penycae, Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal, Rossett, Ruabon, Salisbury Park, Worthenbury and Wrexham Town Centre. Conservation Area designation celebrates the local distinctiveness and identity of the areas which vary significantly in their form, scale and character from the picturesque, rural village of Hanmer in the Maelor region of the borough, the historic medieval settlement of Holt on the banks of the River Dee, to the densely settled former industrial, tiered village of Cefn Mawr in the south. Of the 23 Conservation Areas, 11 have Article 4(2) Directions where it considered appropriate to have additional planning controls to manage alterations to dwellings; Historic Parks and Gardens – Cadw maintain a register of Historic Parks, gardens and landscapes of special historic interest in Wales. Within Wrexham 18 sites are included on the register of parks and gardens; Argoed Hall, Bettisfield Hall, Brynkinallt, Chirk Castle, Erbistock 2 Pontcysyllte Aqueduct & Canal World Heritage Site Management Plan https://www.wrexham.gov.uk/assets/pdfs/heritage/aqueduct/management_plan.pdf Hall, Gredington Park, Horsley Hall, Iscoyd Park, St Mary’s Churchyard (Overton), Pen-y-Lan Hall, Rosehill, Trevalyn Hall, Erddig, Trevalyn Manor, Trevor Hall, Whitehurst Gardens, Wrexham Cemetery and Wynnstay Hall. Inclusion on the register offers no statutory protection however it is a material consideration when determining applications within or that will affect the setting of a park or garden; Historic Landscapes – The Maelor Saesneg region is the only landscape included within the register of Landscape of Special Historic Interest. The region lies to the western fringes of the North Shropshire and South Cheshire plain and topographically is uncharacteristic of Wales with very little prominent of higher ground.3 As with the parks and gardens included on the register there is no statutory protection inferred however the designation is a material consideration when determining applications that fall within or that will affect the wider setting. DESIGNATED ASSET NUMBER WITHIN WCBC World Heritage Sites 1 Listed Buildings 1042 Scheduled Ancient Monuments 104 Conservation Areas 23 Conservation Areas with Article 4(2) 11 Directions Historic Parks and Gardens 18 Historic Landscapes 1 Table 1 – Summary of designated heritage assets within Wrexham County Borough It is recognised and accepted that Wrexham County Borough will naturally evolve to accommodate change. Development pressures such as the need to provide more housing and more jobs, expand settlement limits, as well as advancements in technology, changes in tastes and fashions and fluctuations in affluence are all factors that can determine how and to what extent an area can change. The Local Development Plan (LDP) will therefore play an important role in the safeguarding of the historic environment by ensuring that change and development is appropriately managed, seeking to not only protect and conserve but also enhance our precious heritage assets. The Unitary Development Plan (UDP) sought to protect, preserve and enhance elements of Wrexham County Borough’s historic environment and focussed on listed buildings, Conservation Areas and sites of archaeological importance. The LDP will need to take into account the protection and management of all heritage sets within Wrexham County Borough and outline how a balance can be achieved between conserving and enhancing the historic environment against other competing needs whilst ensuring the historic environment continues to make a positive contribution to identity, sense of place and the economy. 3 Cadw Register of Landscapes of Special Historic Interest in Wales 3 National Policy Context and Supporting Evidence The following section summarises national and local policies, guidance and strategies that relate to the historic environment, and suggests how they will be reflected in the LDP. It will also consider how the vision and objectives set out in the Vision, Objectives and Strategic Growth4 paper should reflect the approach taken to the historic environment in the Preferred Strategy and the LDP. The paper will also outline the evidence which has been collected thus far in relation to this topic, and identify further work necessary to provide a sound and robust evidence base for the LDP. Sustainability Appraisal Topic Papers 2: Built and Historic Environment summarise the key points from national and international policy and guidance relevant to this paper and the key documents are listed below. National Policy will not be repeated in the LDP5, however the key themes to emerge from national policy will be addressed, and issues specific to the County Borough will be dealt with via locally specific policy if required. Primary Legislation Town and Country Planning Act (1990) Town and County Planning (Listed Building and Conservation Areas) Act (1990) Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act (1979) Historic Environment (Wales) Bill (in draft) Planning (Wales) Act (2015) Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act (2015) Primary legislation
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