Creaton Conservation Area
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Slide 1 Creaton Conservation Area Consultation Meeting 7th December 2020 Daventry District Council Slide 2 Rhian Morgan – Heritage Policy Officer Anna Wilson – Heritage Policy Assistant Slide 3 Conservation Areas in Daventry • District wide conservation areas review- including Creaton • Designated 1973 • Last reviewed in 1997 • First opportunity in over twenty years to appraise the conservation area The district council has a statutory duty to undertake conservation area reviews, both of its existing conservation areas as well as exploring the possibility of new designations, so a district-wide review is currently being undertaken which includes Creaton. Conservation areas form some of the most architecturally and historically interesting settlements in the district and Creaton certainly falls into that category with its variety of historic buildings, the historic layout of the village around The Green and its rural setting. Creaton was first designated as a conservation area in 1973 and last reviewed in 1997. So in Creaton’s case it’s over 20 years since the last review and therefore a good opportunity to look at the current boundary to see if it’s fit for purpose or if there are any areas that have changed during that period which means they no longer merit being in the conservation area. We’ve also looked at whether there are areas of the village that are now considered to be worth including in the conservation area and whether the boundary should be extended. As well as reviewing the boundary we’ve also produced a draft conservation area appraisal and management plan (see below). Slide 4 Introduction to Conservation Areas • Conservation areas are “areas of special architectural or historic interest” • Now designated through the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 • Over 10,000 designated nationwide since 1967 (Civic Amenities Act) • Conservation areas cover areas with varying character • Character and appearance are influenced by lots of variables • Different planning regulations which seek to “preserve or enhance” character or appearance • Conservation areas are areas of “special architectural or historic interest” which are designated by local planning authorities through the planning (LBCA) act 1990 • Over 10,000 conservation areas have been designated nationwide since they were first created in 1967 as part of the civic amenities act • Conservation areas have been designated over many different types of area, including residential, industrial, commercial and landscape areas and vary in size from a handful of buildings to many hectares of countryside • Character is created and influenced by many factors, including land use, age of buildings or consistent use of open spaces, the use of particular materials or styles or the impact of fortuitous or purposeful design. • For properties located within the conservation area it does introduce some additional planning controls that ‘seek to enhance or preserve’ the character or appearance of the area (see below). Slide 5 Creaton Conservation Area Character The character of the Creaton Conservation Area is greatly influenced by: • The significant age of its built environment, with many buildings dating to between the 17th-19th centuries • The evidence of its historic village layout, including surrounding areas of archaeological interest • The consistent use of vernacular building materials for both dwellings and boundary treatments • The influence of open spaces, in particular The Green which is an integral part of the medieval settlement layout and a focal point of today’s village. • Creaton’s location on a slope rising up to the top of a ridge, enabling views of the countryside The character of Creaton’s conservation area is influenced by a number of factors which include: • The significant age of many of its buildings, which largely date to between the 17th and 19th centuries. • The evidence of its historic village layout, including surrounding areas of archaeological interest • The consistent use of vernacular building materials for both dwellings and boundary treatments such as honey-coloured ironstone, red brick, slate roof tiles and thatch. • And the influence of open spaces, in particular The Green which is an integral part of the medieval settlement layout and a focal point of today’s village. • The location of the Creaton on a slope rising up to the top of a ridge, which gives extensive views of the surrounding countryside from various points around the village. Slide 6 Planning in Conservation Areas • Controls over: • Demolition of buildings • Development works inc. building or demolishing walls, gates or fences; cladding; alterations to roofing; side and rear extensions; outbuildings; installing radio antennae • Works to trees • Planning applications determined with reference to published guidance and any other material considerations, such as an adopted Conservation Area Appraisal Conservation area status introduces some additional planning controls and these cover: • The demolition of buildings • Development works including building or demolishing walls, gates or fences; cladding; alterations to roofing; side and rear extensions; outbuildings; installing radio antennae. • Works to trees that are over a particular size, although for trees there’s a notification process rather than it being a planning permission. • Planning applications for works that fall within a conservation area are determined with reference to published guidance and any other material considerations, such as an adopted Conservation Area Appraisal. Slide 7 Existing Conservation Area This map shows the current conservation area boundary, which was adopted in 1997, and is the area marked in pink. The buildings marked in red are listed buildings. So the current boundary includes the historic buildings and street pattern of High Street, Violet Lane, the open space of The Green and the historic buildings located around the edges of the The Green. Slide 8 Proposed Conservation Area BA1 – Buildings on Welford Road including the row of 18th/19th century cottages BA2 – Fields north of Creaton Lodge BA 3 – 3 Litchfield Lane BA 4 & 5- Church House and 19 High Street BA 6 – 1-9 Home Farm Close and verge As a result of the current review several changes to the boundary are being proposed, which are shown in this map. Again, the pink area shows the current boundary but the blue areas to indicate extensions to the boundary. BA1 is the row of 18th and 19th cottages on Welford Road which contribute to the historic character of the village through their varying form, scale and positioning next to the road. They have potential to further enhance the conservation area as they are on the main approach route to the village. BA2 incorporates four fields and a large pond north of Creaton Lodge for the contribution they make to the setting and historic character of the conservation area. The fields have ridge and furrow earthworks in them, which provides visual evidence of Creaton’s past link to subsistence agriculture. In the northwest corner of this area there is a pond which is actually a clay extraction pit for an adjacent brickworks, which probably supplied building materials for the brick buildings in the village. This area contains a number of historic landscape features that contribute to the character of the conservation area and an understanding of Creaton’s development. BA3, 4 and 5 are small areas where there has either been some development or changes to garden boundaries since the current boundary was designated meaning that the boundary now runs through the middle of a building or garden. So these three proposed changes rationalise the boundary and include the building and the gardens for completeness. BA6 includes nos. 1-9 Home Farm Close within the conservation area. They are a good example of a small-scale development that uses building materials in keeping with the character of the village. Together, the buildings and the wide verges in front of them enhance views as the conservation area is approached along Brixworth Road and the lane to Cottesbrooke. The full details of why these areas are proposed extensions to the conservation area are set out in the Appraisal and Management Plan. Slide 9 Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan • Conservation Area Appraisals contain useful information for applicants and decision makers • Help to express “special interest” i.e what makes up their historic or architectural interest • Include explanation of historic development and current architectural character- identifies what is important to overall character • We also include information on views, open spaces, footpaths, and the public realm Conservation areas are designated due to their special interest and as part of the review a conservation area appraisal and management plan is produced. These express the special interest and identify what about an area is important, as well as highlighting areas which could benefit from enhancement in the future or any threats to the character of the conservation area. Conservation area appraisals vary depending on the authority or group producing them, but in general they contain an explanation of the development of the area (its historic interest including any known or possible archaeological interest), information about the architecture (architectural interest expressed through building type, style, materials and age). The appraisals produced by Daventry District Council also include information on spatial elements which contribute