WATH (Nidderdale) Conservation Area Character Appraisal Wath (Nidderdale) Conservation Area Character Appraisal -approved approved 30 November 30 November 2011 2011p. a Contents Page 1. Introduction .................................................................................................................... 1 Objectives ........................................................................................................................ 2 2. Planning policy framework ............................................................................................ 2 3 Historic development and archaeology ......................................................................... 3 4 Location and landscape setting ..................................................................................... 5 5. Landscape character .................................................................................................... 6 6. Village analysis .............................................................................................................. 9 7. The form and character of buildings ............................................................................11 Map 1: Historic development ........................................................................................... 15 Map 2: Conservation Area boundary .............................................................................. 16 Map 3: Landscape, analysis and concepts ...................................................................... 17 Appendix A: 1 Management strategy .................................................................................................. 18 2 Monitoring and review ................................................................................................. 18 3 Maintaining quality ...................................................................................................... 18 4 Conservation Area boundary review ........................................................................... 18 5 The management of change ....................................................................................... 19 6 Opportunities for enhancement .................................................................................. 19 7 Landscape issues ....................................................................................................... 22 Checklist to manage change ........................................................................................ 23 Appendix B: Public consultation ..................................................................................... 24 Appendix C: Further reading .......................................................................................... 24 This and other Planning documents are or will be made available in large copy print, audiocassette, Braille or languages other than English. If you require the document in one of these formats, please contact us (tel. 01423 556586 or email [email protected] ) p. b Wath (Nidderdale) Conservation Area Character Appraisal - approved 30 November 2011 1 Introduction 1.1 Conservation Area Appraisals aim to define 1.3 The main function of the Conservation 1.5 Wath (Nidderdale) Conservation Area was and analyse the special interest which Area Appraisal is to ensure that any works originally designated on 1 September 1994 constitutes the character and appearance in the Conservation Area have regard to and was amended on 30 November 2011. of a place. It is these qualities which the special qualities of the area and to This Appraisal aims to describe Wath as it warrant the designation of a Conservation devise a strategy to protect these qualities. is today and identify the special character Area. This Appraisal was approved The Appraisal will help us understand and distinctiveness of its setting, buildings by the Cabinet member for Planning, the impact that development proposals and open spaces. Having identified those Transport and Economic Development would have on the Conservation Area and special qualities, the Appraisal will examine on 30 November 2011 and forms an whether these are acceptable and/ whether opportunities exist to protect and “evidence base” for the Local Development or appropriate. enhance its character. Framework (LDF). Consequently, it is a material consideration when determining 1.4 The assessment of the area’s special 1.6 By identifying what makes Wath special or applications for development, considering architectural or historic interest is based distinctive it is suggested that any future planning appeals or proposing works on a careful and objective analysis of change, whether to individual buildings, for the preservation or enhancement of the area, using a method of analysis building groups or the village as a whole, the area. It also forms the basis for a recommended by English Heritage. will be based on this understanding of subsequent management strategy, which Various qualities are looked at including: the past and the present character of the will contain proposals and policies for historical development, building materials, settlement. In this way, we can manage the conservation and enhancement and relationships between buildings future change to ensure it makes a of the area. and open spaces. Appraisals aim to be positive contribution towards preserving comprehensive but the omission of any or enhancing its special character. 1.2 The Appraisal provides information and particular building, feature or space guidance to those wishing to carry out should not be taken to imply that it is works in the Conservation Area whether of no interest. or not they require planning approval. So, it is a useful source of information for property owners, agents, applicants and members of the public who live or work in Wath (Nidderdale). Wath (Nidderdale) Conservation Area Character Appraisal - approved 30 November 2011 p. 1 2 Planning policy framework Objectives 2.1 Local authorities have a duty to designate policy for the control of development in The principal objectives of the “areas of special architectural or historic conservation areas). The scope of Policy Appraisal are: interest, the character or appearance HD3 also covers development proposals of which it is desirable to preserve or outside a conservation area which would to define and record the enhance” as conservation areas under affect its setting or views into or out of the special character and section 69 of the Planning (Listed conservation area. interest of the settlement;· Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990. The same Act also requires local 2.4 Wath is in the Nidderdale Area of Out- to raise public awareness planning authorities periodically to review standing Natural Beauty (AONB). In 1994, of the aims and objectives conservation areas. in recognition of the quality of its landscape of Conservation Area the Countryside Commission designated 2.2 Government guidance on all development the Nidderdale AONB. Saved Policy C1 designation and to affecting conservation areas is set out in from the Harrogate District Local Plan, stimulate involvement Planning Policy Statement 5: Planning for provides that priority will be given to the in the protection of the Historic Environment (PPS5) and the conservation of the natural beauty of the its character; accompanying PPS5 Historic Environment landscape and any development should to identify what is worthy Planning Practice Guide. The Practice reflect the local distinctiveness of the area. Guide advises local authorities to compile of preservation to aid conservation area character appraisals as 2.5 The Nidderdale AONB Management understanding; a means of gaining a better understanding Plan (2009-14) is a spatial strategy that addresses the need to manage change. to assess the action that of the significance of their Conservation The Nidderdale AONB Heritage Strategy, may be necessary to Areas. PPS5 advises that these character appraisals should in turn be consulted in approved April 2009, identifies the objecti- safeguard this special ves, policies and actions required for the interest; and determining planning applications which affect conservation areas or their setting. sustainable management of heritage to identify opportunities in the AONB. for enhancement. 2.3 In determining planning applications for development within conservation areas and 2.6 Involving the community and raising applications for conservation area consent, public awareness is an integral part of the council will give considerable weight to the appraisal process and needs to be the content of conservation area character approached in a pro-active and innovative appraisals. The consideration of proposals way. Community involvement helps to in the context of the description contained bring valuable public understanding and in these appraisals will be an important ‘ownership’ to proposals for the area. A factor in deciding whether a proposal has report, included in the appendix, details how an adverse affect on the character and the local community was involved and the appearance of a conservation area and, contribution it has made to this Appraisal. therefore, whether it is contrary to saved Local Plan Policy HD3 (which is the key p. 2 Wath (Nidderdale) Conservation Area Character Appraisal - approved 30 November 2011 3 Historic development and archaeology 3.1 The name “Wath” probably derives from huge areas of grazing land on Dallow the Scandinavian meaning “ford”, and it is Moor and Fountains Earth Moor.