Development and Infrastructure Service Seirbheis an Leasachaidh agus a’ Bhun-structair Culloden Muir Conservation Area: Character Appraisal and Management Plan Sgìre Glèidhteachais Blàr Chùil Lodair: Measadh Caractair agus Plana Rianachd November 2015 Culloden Muir Conservation Area Contents Clàr-innse Part 1 Introduction and Background 2 Pàirt 1 Ro-ràdh agus Cùl-fhiosrachadh Location What is a Conservation Area? What Does Conservation Area Status Mean? Purpose of a Conservation Area Character Appraisal and Management Plan Background to Conservation Area Designation at Culloden Part 2 The Conservation Area Designation 7 Pàirt 2 Tiotal na Sgìre Glèidhteachais Revising the 1968 Culloden Battleeld Designation Dening the 2015 Culloden Muir Conservation Area Boundary Part 3 Justication and Cultural Signicance 10 Pàirt 3 Fìreanachadh agus Brìgh Chultarail Background Cultural Signicance of Culloden Muir Managing Change for the Future Part 4 Historic Development 14 Pàirt 4 Leasachadh Eachdraidheil Part 5 Character and Appearance 18 Pàirt 5 Caractar agus Coltas Topography Gateways and Roadways Trees and Forestry Building Density Sense of Place View and Landmarks Architectural and Archaeological Character Listed Buildings Scheduled Monuments Undesignated Assets and Archaeological Potential Part 6 Preservation and Enhancement 29 Pàirt 6 Gleidheadh agus Neartachadh Key Challenges Opportunities Part 7 Management Plan and Planning Policies 32 Pàirt 7 Plana Rianachd agus Poileasaidhean Dealbhaidh Management Plan Planning Policies for the Culloden Muir Conservation Area Part 8 Further Information 38 Pàirt 8 Tuilleadh Fiosrachaidh Part 1 Introduction and Background Pàirt 1 Ro-ràdh agus Cùl-fhiosrachadh Location Culloden Muir is located c.1.5km to the “an area of special architectural or south-east of the modern settlement of historic interest, the character or Culloden, and some 7km to the east of appearance of which it is desirable to the heart of Inverness. The Conservation preserve or enhance”. Area extends to c.980 hectares and consists predominantly of agricultural All planning authorities are required by land, grazing and commercial forestry the Act to determine which parts of their plantation. The site is c.160m above sea area merit Conservation Area status. level on a rolling terrace largely formed Highland Council currently has 30 from Old Red Sandstone. Conservation Areas varying in character from city and town centres, rural villages, What is a Conservation Area? former country estates and a single battlefield. Conservation Areas were first introduced by the Civic Amenities Act What Does Conservation Area 1967. The Planning (Listed Buildings Status Mean? and Conservation Area) (Scotland) Act 1997 (the Act) provides the current Conservation Area designation is about legislative framework for the designation the special architectural or historic of Conservation Areas. In the Act a interest of an entire area as a result of the Conservation Area is defined as: collective significance of its history and the physical remains which represent that history. This can include landscape, 2 Culloden Muir Conservation Area natural features, buildings, layout, In order to protect Conservation Areas, plan-form and social and architectural designation requires the Council to history. In a Conservation Area it is both formulate and publish proposals for their the buildings and the spaces between preservation and enhancement in the them that are of architectural or historic form of Conservation Area character interest. Planning control is, therefore, appraisals and Conservation Area directed at maintaining the integrity management plans. Best practice of the entire area and preserving recommends that adopted management and enhancing its special character. plans and character appraisals are Conservation Area status does not mean reviewed periodically, ideally every five that new development is unacceptable, years, to ensure continued monitoring but care must be taken to ensure that and effective management of the the new development will not adversely designated area. impact on the character or appearance of the area. Local residents, building and land owners also have a major role to play in Under current legislation, Conservation protecting and enhancing the character Area designation automatically brings and appearance of a Conservation Area the following works under planning by ensuring properties are regularly control (in addition to normal planning maintained, original features retained, controls): boundaries maintained and any proposals for development are sensitive • Demolition of buildings; to the character and appearance of the • Removal of, or work to, trees; Conservation Area. • Development involving small house extensions, roof alterations, stone Purpose of a Conservation cleaning or painting of the exterior, Area Character Appraisal and provision of hard surfaces; Management Plan • Replacement of windows and doors; Alterations to a land or property • Conservation Area designation boundary within a metre of a highway; recognises the architectural and historic and importance of an area the character and Additional control over satellite • or appearance of which it is desirable to dishes. preserve or enhance. Designation should be regarded as the first positive step Where a development proposal would, towards preservation and enhancement in the opinion of the planning authority, and provides the opportunity for the affect the character or appearance of a careful management of change in the Conservation Area, the application for future to achieve this aim. planning permission will be advertised in the local press providing an opportunity Planning authorities and the Scottish for public comment. Views expressed, Government are required by law to which present a material consideration, have due regard to the desirability to are taken into account by the planning preserve or enhance the character authority when determining an and/or appearance of a designated application. Conservation Area when considering proposals for development. There Culloden Muir Conservation Area 3 is a general presumption against and management of Conservation development which will adversely affect Areas has been refined and extensive the character and appearance of a research has significantly advanced designated Conservation Area. As such our understanding of the extent of the it is necessary for planning authorities, battlefield and how the action unfolded. residents and property owners to be Additionally, the battlefield has since aware of the key features that together been designated and is included on create the area’s special character the non-statutory Inventory of Historic and appearance to inform future Battlefields. None of the foregoing and the management and decision making within associated information would have been the Conservation Area. Additionally, in in circulation at the time of the current line with best practice, the local planning Culloden Battlefield Conservation Area authority should also publish clear designation in 1968. guidance and policy to ensure that all future development proposals preserve The document will also identify and enhance the area’s character and opportunities for preservation and appearance and preserve the area’s enhancement alongside a Conservation special historic interest. Area Management Plan which clearly defines Highland Council’s policies The purpose of this document is to define and guidance in relation to the future the boundary and evaluate the character management, preservation and and appearance of the Culloden Muir enhancement of the Conservation Area. Conservation Area, to identify its important characteristics and to ensure This revised designation and that there is a full understanding of what management plan for the Conservation is worthy of preservation. The area’s Area is to be regarded as supplementary special features and changing needs to the policies set out in the adopted will be assessed through a process Highland-wide Local Development Plan that includes researching its historical (2012), the Inner Moray Firth Local Plan development, carrying out a detailed (2015) and Highland Historic Environment historical analysis, considering the Strategy (2012) and will have the status historic landscape and wider setting of a ‘material consideration’ in the and preparing a detailed character assessment of development proposals assessment. within the Conservation Area. This document has provided an It is recognised that the successful opportunity to reassess the current management of Conservation Areas can Conservation Area designation and has only be achieved with the support and been developed based on a proposed input from stakeholders, including local re-designation to make certain that the residents, land and property owners. Conservation Area accurately reflects This document has been through full what is of special architectural and/ public consultation which enabled or historic interest and to ensure that all stakeholders the opportunity to the boundary is logically drawn. This input to the future management of the is especially pertinent in this case as, Conservation Area. since the current Culloden Battlefield Conservation Area was first designated in 1968, guidance on the designation 4 Culloden Muir Conservation Area Background to Conservation Area primarily in order to enable control over Designation at Culloden the battlefield’s ‘setting’. Since 1968 and especially over the In 1968, Culloden