The Daventry Country Park Character Appraisal
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The Daventry Country Park Character Appraisal November 2008 Consultation Draft Daventry District Council – Daventry Country Park Character Appraisal 2 This document has been prepared on behalf of Daventry District Council by: The Conservation Studio 1 Querns Lane Cirencester Glos GL7 1RL 01285 642428 [email protected] www.theconservationstudio.co.uk The Conservation Studio – November 2008 Daventry District Council – Daventry Country Park Character Appraisal 3 Contents: 1. Summary of the Special Interest of the proposed Conservation Area 2. Introduction 2.1 Background 2.2 Planning policy context 2.3 Existing Designations 2.4 Community Involvement 2.5 Consultation 3. Location, Landscape Setting and Topography 3.1 Geographic location 3.2 Landscape setting 3.3 Topography and geology 4. Historical Development 4.1 Archaeology 4.2 Historical development 5. The Character and Appearance of the Proposed Daventry Reservoir Conservation Area 5.1 Landscape, layout and open spaces 5.2 Activities and uses 5.3 The buildings 5.4 Focal points, views and vistas 5.5 Plants and trees 5.6 Public realm 5.7 Boundaries 6. Negative features 6.1 Definition of negative features 7. Issues 7.1 Definition of Issues 7.2 Conservation area boundary review 7.3 Public realm 7.4 Building maintenance and repair 7.5 Trees 7.6 Expansion of Daventry 7.7 New Canal Arm Appendices: Appendix 1 Proposed Daventry Reservoir Conservation Area Map (showing proposed boundary and principal features) Appendix 2 Map showing existing Daventry Country Park/Local Nature Reserve boundary Appendix 3 References The Conservation Studio – November 2008 Daventry District Council – Daventry Country Park Character Appraisal 4 1. SUMMARY OF THE SPECIAL INTEREST OF THE PROPOSED CONSERVATION AREA This study concludes that the special architectural and historic interest in the Daventry Country Park is focused around Daventry Reservoir and, therefore, the proposed designation is referred to throughout the remainder of this document as the “proposed Daventry Reservoir Conservation Area”. The special interest of the proposed Daventry Reservoir Conservation Area can be summarised as follows: The proposed conservation area is centred on the early 19th century Daventry Reservoir (70 acres), which feeds the Grand Union Canal to the north The focal point of the park is the Visitor Centre and Rangers’ Office in the 19th century Reservoir Cottage on the north side of the reservoir The special historic interest in the park is primarily the reservoir itself, due to its links with the Grand Union Canal Some minor surviving historic fabric in the form of brick culverts and walling associated with the reservoir The reservoir has historically provided leisure facilities and other uses for the people of Daventry In addition the proposed Conservation Area benefits from the following: Surrounding the reservoir is a rich range of habitats including wetlands, woods, recreational areas, pastures and fields The park is a Local Nature Reserve that enjoys Green Flag status and is covered by an up-to-date Conservation Management Plan The reservoir is part of a large area of public open space, roughly 164 acres, to the north east of Daventry Town Centre Easy access to the park from Daventry means that the park provides an important amenity for the town The neighbouring countryside provides an attractive setting to the park and the adjoining Grand Union Canal The Conservation Studio – November 2008 Daventry District Council – Daventry Country Park Character Appraisal 5 2. INTRODUCTION 2.1 Background This conservation area appraisal has been produced by The Conservation Studio on behalf of Daventry District Council. It was commissioned in February 2008 to determine the suitability, or otherwise, of all or part of Daventry Country Park for potential designation as a conservation area. The recommendations from this appraisal were presented to Daventry District Council in the form of a separate ‘Conservation Area Designation Report’. On 10 July, the Strategy Group considered the report and agreed that the Council should proceed with public consultation before deciding whether to make a designation. This appraisal analyses the whole of the Daventry Country Park area, in order to consider whether it has special architectural and historic interest. This will be taken into account when deciding whether to designate a conservation area and, if so, the extent of its boundaries. The research that has preceded the preparation of this document has covered the wide- ranging policies and initiatives that are currently ongoing in Daventry and in the wider East Midlands area. They have informed the findings of this appraisal and consideration has also been given to the degree to which conservation area designation would protect the special architectural or historic interest of the Country Park. The development context in and around the Country Park will be explored in more detail in a separate Management Plan. Public consultation on the proposed Conservation Area and the accompanying Management Plan is an important part of the process of designating, preserving and enhancing conservation areas. Should a conservation area be designated in Daventry Country Park, this character appraisal, and any subsequent management proposal documents, will guide future development and improvements in the Country Park, in conjunction with existing and forthcoming planning policies and plans adopted or approved by Daventry District Council. Preparation of the appraisal involved an extensive survey of the Country Park and its setting undertaken in February and May 2008. While every effort has been made to assess all the factors that affect the special interest of the area, the omission of any particular feature does not necessarily imply that it is of no significance. 2.2 Planning policy context Conservation Areas are defined, in the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 (The Act), as: The Conservation Studio – November 2008 Daventry District Council – Daventry Country Park Character Appraisal 6 ‘areas of special architectural or historic interest the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance’. Local Planning Authorities are required by the Act to identify the parts of their area that should be designated as conservation areas, to designate them and to formulate and publish proposals to preserve or enhance them. Local authorities must submit proposals for the protection and enhancement of conservation areas for consideration to a public meeting within the relevant area. They must also have regard to any views expressed by people attending the meeting. Broadly, the effects of designation are: Conservation Area Consent must be obtained from the local planning authority or Secretary of State prior to the substantial or total demolition of any building or structure within a conservation area, with some exceptions (under Section 74(1) of The Act) The local planning authority must consider the desirability of preserving or enhancing the character or appearance of the conservation area when assessing applications for change in conservation areas (under Section 72(1) of The Act) Permitted development rights are slightly different in conservation areas (as identified in Schedule 1, Part 2 - Article 5(1) Land of the General Permitted Development Order, 1995, and under Schedule 2 – Permitted Development of the General Permitted Development Order, 1995) Permission is required from the planning authority to fell, lop or top a tree over a certain size (under Section 211 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990) Conservation Areas are protected and supported by statutory legislation, regional, county and local planning policies and other supporting documents. The relevant documents are: The Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 Central government guidance, principally as set out in “Planning Policy Guidance 15: Planning and the Historic Environment” and “Planning Policy Guidance 16: Planning and Archaeology” Milton Keynes and South Midlands Sub-Regional Strategy (2005) Regional Spatial Strategy for East Midlands (March 2005 – under review) The Northamptonshire County Structure Plan 1996-2016 The Daventry District Local Plan, adopted in 1997, which will be superseded by the Local Development Framework currently in preparation Daventry Town Masterplan (Interim Draft, 2006) Daventry Town Centre Vision 2021 (July 2004) Daventry Waterspace Feasibility Study prepared by Mouchel Parkman (November 2006) The Conservation Studio – November 2008 Daventry District Council – Daventry Country Park Character Appraisal 7 2.3 Existing Designations Daventry Reservoir, and the immediately bordering land, has been designated as a County Wildlife Site by the Northamptonshire Wildlife Trust, while the whole of the Daventry Country Park has been designated by Daventry District Council as a Local Nature Reserve (2007). 2.4 Community involvement At the initial stage of considering Daventry Country Park for conservation area status, local groups were contacted for background historical research, and were made aware that Daventry District Council was considering the designation. Now that the Council has decided to proceed with the proposal to designate a conservation area, a process of engagement with local stakeholders and the general public is being undertaken. This will involve exhibitions and a six week consultation period during which time the proposals will be publically advertised and discussed.