WARWICK DISTRICT CANAL CONSERVATION AREA CONTENTS PART 1 PART 2 CANAL CORRIDOR PLANS TO SHOW DESIGNATED AREA 1.0 INTRODUCTION AT 1: 2500 scale 2.0 PLANNING POLICY CHARACTER LENGTHS: 3.0 DOCUMENTED HISTORY G and Union Canal 1 ROWINGTON Baddesley, Rowin ton and Shrewley 4.0 SUMMARY OF SPECIAL INTEREST 2 HATTON Hatton and Budbrooke 5.0 MANAGING CHANGE 3 WARWIC) Warwick 4 AVON Warwick 6.0 DPD EMERGING ISSUES 5 O,D TOWN ,eamin ton . /OSSE Radford and Offchurch St atfo d upon Avon Canal 1 ,A2WORTH ,apworth and Rowin ton Appendices include: Glossary Consultation report Ga4etteer of listed structures, brid es, locks, ateways, waterside streets, non5desi nated herita e assets /ootnotes, key fi ures and references 1.0 INTRODUCTION What is the pu pose of the Conse vation A ea Assessment2 Warwick District Council is desi natin a canal conservation The Council has prepared this assessment of the Canal area that crosses the district comprisin the Grand 7nion Conservation Area in order to fulfil its statutory duty and aims Canal and Stratford on Avon canal, as defined in the canal to: boundary plans. Increase public awareness of the aims and objectives of A conse vation a ea is 9an area of special architectural conservation area designation and stimulate their or historic interest the character or appearance of involvement in the protection of the character of these unique which it is desirable to preserve or enhance/ places; and to :Section .9 of the 2lannin :,isted Buildin s and Conservation Areas) Act 1990). Assess the actions that are necessary to safeguard the individual character of each conservation area and put They were first introduced into British le islation by the Civic forward proposals for their enhancement. Amenities Act of 19.1 to protect the wider historic The assessment should be read in conjunction the environment. They are cohesive areas in which the Development 2lan and national plannin policy uidance, interaction of buildin s and spaces create environments that relatin to conservation areas. constitute valued and sometimes irreplaceable components of our local, re ional and national herita e. Conservation areas The Council has a statutory duty to pay attention to the are desi nated by the Council, which has a statutory duty to desirability of preservin and enhancin the character and review its historic districts from time to time, in order to appearance of conservation areas. This document will provide ascertain whether further conservation area desi nations are a framework for the positive mana ement of chan e in the deemed to be appropriate. The aim is to ensure that the Canal Conservation Area and form a basis on which plannin interest of desi nated areas is retained for future enerations, decisions in the area are made. It is, however, not likely to be their environmental quality is preserved or enhanced and fully comprehensive in its content, so failure to mention any local distinctiveness and sense of place is safe uarded. particular buildin , feature or space should not be assumed to imply that they are of no interest. 1 SCOPE OF THE DOCUMENT 40 )m of Canal in Warwick District. By realisin the potential of this herita e asset, increasin safe use and enjoyment, the The purpose of the appraisal is to justify the desi nation of a Conservation Area initiative will enhance the health and canal conservation which will preserve and enhance what is wellbein of Warwick@s residential population by promotin si nificant about the area. In order to do this it will: the intrinsic value of this si nificant local assetA share in • explore the physical context stewardship of this le acy, respondin to the ran e of • analyse and articulate how the ei hteenth century communities of interest that en a e with this distinctive part landscape has chan ed and evolved and will continue of the public realm, thus contributin to broaden community, to do so cultural, and civic life. • identify why the waterway corridor is special and what Warwick District Council ,ocal 2lan has identified that elements within the area contribute to this special Waterways can be used as tools for place makin and place quality and which do not shapin and contribute to the creation of sustainable • explains the influence of canal on the district@s communities :Warwick District ,ocal 2lan NE1). The Canal development Conservation Area will assist herita e5lead re eneration, • identify what is locally distinctive. includin the Creative Buarter in ,eamin ton@s Old Town, and • inform desi n uidance and site5specific development other waterside development opportunities across the district. briefs that encoura e new development that The CCA will also help in the assessment of the amount of complements the character, chan e and of whether any chan e is appropriate. • assist the preparation of proposals that make a positive contribution to the conservation area In line with the National 2lannin 2olicy /ramework, the local authority has set out in their ,ocal 2lan a positive strate y for AIMS AND O3JECTIVES the conservation and enjoyment of the historic environment. The len th of the canals, built 220 years a o throu h Warwick The strate y reco nises that conservation is not a passive District has resulted in the character of the conservation area exercise. As well as areas for restraint, the appraisal helps bein diverse. A lar e new settlement at ,eamin ton identify specific opportunities for the conservation and developed followin the arrival of the canals. The local enhancement of herita e assets. This could include waterways link historic towns with the countryside beyond. appropriate development within their settin s that will make a Also an ecolo ical resource, they provide open access to a positive contribution to, or better reveal the si nificance of, landscape of character for the many residents who do not the herita e asset. They also have to consider harm to the have their own arden, want to walk, jo or cycle alon the si nificance of the herita e asset and not just say no to any 2 chan e, it is a balancin exercise that relies on a full readin APPROACH TO CONSERVATION of the context by the applicant and the decision maker. The approach to the appraisal draws on Conservation Herita e assets may be affected by direct physical chan e or Principles, Policies and uidance (English Heritage 2008). by chan e in their settin . Bein able to properly assess the This reco ni4es the wide ran e of herita e values. It states nature, extent and importance of the si nificance of a that the wei ht iven to herita e values should be herita e asset, and the contribution of its settin , and their proportionate to the si nificance of the place and the impact reversibility, is very important to understandin the potential of the chan e upon the special architectural or historic impact and acceptability of development proposals. interest, the character or appearance of which, it is desirable to preserve or enhance. Conservation 2rinciples established a decision makin framework that helps determine what is appropriate. The intention of the appraisal is to help everyone involved to take account of the diverse ways in which people value the historic environment as part of their cultural and natural herita e. Community en a ement can provide information on the local issues, local economy and local area as well as the needs and aspirations of local people. This helps ensure that jud ments on historic areas and places are informed and well founded. ST CARD IN THE /IE,DS E WI,,ES CANA,SIDE ESTATE 3 4 DESCRIPTION AND LOCATION OF CANAL METHODOLOGY CONSERVATION AREA • A physical appraisal of the current state of the canals The Grand 7nion Canal runs south east from Birmin ham and and their environs • enters the district at Netherwood Heath, passin the Desk research to understand the evolution from the settlements of )in swood, Rowin ton, Hatton, Shrewley, canal acts in 1193 to today, resources include the Budbrooke, Warwick, ,eamin ton, Radford Semele and Historic Environment Record , Warwickshire County Offchurch, it exits into Stratford District at Welsh Road ,ocks Record Office, WCCIWDC landscape sensitivity studies, after the planned HS2 crossin . Canal and local history sources • Discussions with Canal GRiver Trust, Historic En land, The Stratford on Avon canal, also from Birmin ham, starts at local history roups and other key stakeholders )in s Norton and enters the district after Hockley Heath, • Consultation with the community and re istered passin ,apworth and linkin to the Grand 7nion at interested parties )in swood in 1802, it then extends south, under the C40, • /rom the detailed assessment of each character area, throu h ,owsonford and into Stratford district at Darnin ale identify a ran e of Issues and opportunities from where it continues and connects to the River Avon and • make recommendations for the future preservation then the Severn. and enhancement of the Conservation Area that are based on ood conservation and re eneration practice The waterways in Warwick District to ether form the conservation area. The canals in Warwick District are an To enable a comprehensive and clearer analysis of the inte ral part of a network mana ed lar ely by the Canal G townscape, the district@s canal network has been divided into River Trust, as successors to British Waterways The networks seven 9character@ len ths, lookin at historic development of covers 2000 miles, rou hly equivalent to sailin around the that part, buildin type, uses and activities, links, spaces, coast of Britain, dependin on whether you shortcut throu h settin s, trees and the public realm and open spaces which the Caledonian Canal.