CABINET - 14th March 2013 Report of the Head of Planning and Regeneration Lead Member: Councillor Matthew Blain Part A ITEM 16 THRUSSINGTON & RATCLIFFE ON THE WREAKE CONSERVATION AREA CHARACTER APPRAISALS Purpose of the Report To request formal adoption of the Conservation Area Character Appraisals and Management Plans for Thrussington and Ratcliffe on the Wreake. Recommendation 1. That the Character Appraisals and Management Plans for Thrussington and Ratcliffe on the Wreake Conservation Areas set out in Appendix A and Appendix C of this report be adopted. 2. That delegated authority is given to the Head of Planning and Regeneration, in consultation with the Lead Member for Planning, to make minor amendments to the Thrussington and Ratcliffe on the Wreake Conservation Area Appraisals prior to publication if necessary. Reasons 1. To provide adopted guidance that identifies the special character and creates a sound basis for the management of the Thrussington and Ratcliffe on the Wreake Conservation Areas. 2. To allow the Head of Planning and Regeneration to make minor amendments to documents before they are finalised for publication. Policy Justification and Previous Decisions The Council’s Corporate Plan 2012-2016 includes the intention to “protect our built and natural heritage to maintain the character of the Borough”. The Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 lays a duty on local authorities to formulate proposals to preserve and enhance conservation areas. The National Planning Policy Framework (2012) places responsibility on local planning authorities to assess and understand the particular significance of any heritage asset that may be affected by a proposal by utilising available evidence and necessary expertise. This should be taken into account when considering the impact of a proposal on a heritage asset to avoid or minimise conflict between an asset’s conservation and any aspect of the proposal. - 1 - Local Plan Saved Policy EV/1- Design, seeks to ensure a high standard of design for all new development and that the design should be compatible with the locality and utilise appropriate materials. Implementation Timetable including Future Decisions and Scrutiny Implementation of the proposals set out in this report, subject to amendments arising from the Council’s constitutional processes, will commence as soon as the decision of the Cabinet becomes effective. Report Implications The following implications have been identified for this report. Financial Implications Management Plan action points can be accommodated within existing budgets. Risk Management Risk Management Risk Identified Likelihood Impact Actions Planned Failure to adopt Appraisals and Possible Minor Adopt Appraisals Management Plans could lead to a lack of incorporating any appropriate information to inform necessary development proposals and guide revisions decision making, resulting in a lack of protection for the historic environment of the Borough and some loss of reputation Key Decision: No Background Papers: Charnwood Borough Council’s Corporate Plan 2012-2016 The National Planning Policy Framework (DCLG, 2012) Officers to Contact: Hannah Syddall 01509 634971 [email protected] Mark Fennell 01509 634748 [email protected] - 2 - Part B Background 1. Thrussington Conservation Area was designated in July 1975. Ratcliffe on the Wreake Conservation Area was designated in May 1979 and extended in December 1989. 2. A Conservation Area Character Appraisal is intended to be an objective statement and factual description of the conservation area. It justifies the historical and architectural reasons for designating the Area and describes the particular qualities of buildings, spaces and landscape that together create a distinctive street scene or other part of the public realm. It describes the strengths and weaknesses of the Area and identifies opportunities for enhancement. The appraisal should establish a sound basis for the guidance of planning and development control decisions, which can ultimately be defended at appeal. 3. The studies carried out for the Appraisals have been used to set out a Management Plan for each Conservation Area. The Character Appraisal and Management Plan form a single document for each Area. Consultation 4. Consultation on the two draft Appraisals and Management Plans has taken place through public meetings in Thrussington on 16th January 2013 (29 attended) and in Ratcliffe on the Wreake on 8th January 2013 (31 attended). The draft documents have been made available on the Council’s website and in print by request. 5. A summary has been compiled of the comments made at the two public meetings and letters and emails received. The summary includes the action taken as a result. The two draft documents have been amended to take account of these comments. 6. The final Conservation Area Character Appraisals for Thrussington and Ratcliffe on the Wreake and the comments received during the consultation period are contained in Appendices A-D. The appraisals will afford better protection of the character and identity of each Conservation Area, and contribute to maintaining the distinctive landscape and townscape of the Borough. Cabinet are asked to consider their adoption so they can be used guidance for the management of Thrussington and Ratcliffe on the Wreake Conservation Areas. Appendices: Appendix A: Thrussington Conservation Character Appraisal & Management Plan Appendix B: Thrussington Conservation Area: Responses to Draft Appraisal. Appendix C: Ratcliffe on the Wreake Conservation Area Character Appraisal & Management Plan. Appendix D: Ratcliffe on the Wreake Conservation Area: Responses to Draft Appraisal. - 3 - APPENDIX A Thrussington Conservation Area Character Appraisal INTRODUCTION 2 Planning policy context ASSESSMENT OF SPECIAL INTEREST 4 LOCATION AND SETTING 4 HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT 5 Origins and development; Archaeological interest; Population SPATIAL ANALYSIS 7 Plan form; Villagescape; Key views and vistas; Landmarks CHARACTER ANALYSIS 10 Building types and uses; Key listed buildings and structures; Key unlisted buildings; Coherent groups; Building materials and architectural details; Biodiversity, parks, gardens and trees; Detrimental features DEFINITION OF SPECIAL INTEREST 17 CONSERVATION AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN 17 General Principles; Procedures to ensure consistent decision-making; Enforcement Strategy; General condition; Review of the boundary; Possible buildings for spot listing; Proposals for economic development and regeneration; Management and protection of important trees, green space and biodiversity; Monitoring change; Consideration of resources; Summary of issues and proposed actions; Developing management proposals; Community involvement; Advice and guidance ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 23 BIBLIOGRAPHY 23 LISTED BUILDINGS IN THRUSSINGTON 24 - 4 - THRUSSINGTON CONSERVATION AREA CHARACTER APPRAISAL Current map of Thrussington showing the Conservation Area INTRODUCTION Thrussington Conservation Area was designated in July 1975. The boundary incorporates the village green which was at the core of the medieval village as well as buildings from the sixteenth century through into the twenty-first. It currently covers an area of 7.4 Hectares. The purpose of this appraisal is to examine the historic development of the Conservation Area and to describe its present appearance in order to assess its special architectural and historic interest. This document sets out the planning policy context and how this appraisal relates to national, regional and local planning policies. The main part of the report focuses on the assessment of the special interest of the Conservation Area: • Location and setting describes how the Area relates to the historic village and surrounding area; - 5 - • Historic development and archaeology sets out how architecture and archaeology are related to the social and economic growth of the village; • Spatial analysis describes the historic plan form of the village and how this has changed, the interrelationship of streets and spaces, and identifies key views and landmarks; • Character analysis identifies the uses, types and layouts of buildings, key listed and unlisted buildings, coherent groups of buildings, distinctive building materials and architectural details, significant green spaces and trees, and detrimental features. These elements are brought together in a summary of the special interest of the Conservation Area. The document is intended as a guide for people considering development which may affect the Conservation Area. It will be used by the Planning & Regeneration Service in their assessment of development proposals. It may, of course, be used by residents of the Conservation Area. Planning Policy Context The Planning (Listed Building and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 defines a conservation area as ‘an area of special architectural or historic interest the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance’ (Section 69). Local planning authorities have a duty to review the overall extent of designation in their areas regularly and if appropriate, to designate additional areas. The Act sets out the general duties of local planning authorities relating to designated conservation areas: • From time to time, to draw up and publish proposals for the preservation and enhancement of conservation areas in their districts and to consult the local community about these proposals (Section 71); • In exercising their planning powers,