Wealden District Council Local Plan Wealden Local Plan Conservation Areas Issues, Options and Recommendations Consultation October 2015 How to Contact Us Planning Policy Wealden District Council Council Offices, Vicarage Lane, Hailsham, East Sussex BN27 2AX Telephone 01892 602007 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.wealden.gov.uk Office hours Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 8.30am to 5.00pm and Wednesday 9.00am to 5.00pm You may also visit the offices Monday to Friday, to view other Local Plan documents. A copy of the Wealden Local Plan Conservation Areas and associated documents can be downloaded from the Planning Policy pages of the Wealden website, www.wealden.gov.uk/ planningpolicy or scan the QR code below with your smart phone. If you, or somebody you know, would like the information contained in this document in large print, Braille, audio tape/CD or in another language please contact Wealden District Council on 01323 443322 or [email protected] Wealden Local Plan Conservation Areas - Wealden Local Plan Issues Options and Recommendations 1 Overview 3 2 Introduction 5 3 Background 7 4 Agreed Methodology 9 4.1 Introduction 9 Contents 4.2 Criteria for measuring special interest and drawing the 9 boundaries 4.3 Criteria for Selection of Areas 9 4.4 Criteria for Selection of Boundaries 10 4.5 Consideration of potential new Conservation Areas 10 4.6 Re-appraisal of existing Conservation Areas 11 5 Recommendations and Options for Testing - Existing Areas 13 5.1 Introduction 13 5.2 Cade Street 16 5.3 Chiddingly 25 5.4 Cousley Wood 33 5.5 Crowborough 42 5.6 Danehill 52 5.7 East Hoathly 61 5.8 Fletching 72 5.9 Forest Row 82 5.10 Framfield 93 5.11 Frant 102 5.12 Hailsham 111 5.13 Hartfield 122 5.14 Hellingly 136 5.15 Maresfield 147 5.16 Mayfield 158 5.17 Old Heathfield 173 5.18 Pevensey and Westham 183 5.19 Ripe 192 5.20 Rotherfield 205 5.21 Rushlake Green 214 5.22 Selmeston 223 5.23 Uckfield 236 5.24 Wadhurst 250 5.25 Waldron 265 5.26 Withyham 274 5.27 Willingdon, Church Street 284 Wealden Local Plan Conservation Areas - Wealden Local Plan Issues Options and Recommendations Contents 6 Recommendations and Options for Testing - New Areas 293 6.1 Introduction 293 6.2 Arlington 295 6.3 Boreham Street 304 6.4 Chalvington 310 6.5 Coggins Mill 316 6.6 Cowbeech 322 6.7 Eridge Green and The Forstal 328 6.8 Five Ashes 336 6.9 Muddles Green 342 6.10 Pell Green 348 6.11 Splaynes Green 354 6.12 Warbleton 360 6.13 Wartling 367 7 Settlements considered which did not meet the Criteria 373 7.1 Introduction 373 7.2 Recommendations 373 7.3 Alternatives Considered 375 8 Consultation 407 8.1 Introduction 407 8.2 Previous consultation 407 8.3 Current consultation 408 8.4 Future consultation 409 9 Questions 411 1 Background Paper and Methodology 415 Wealden Local Plan Conservation Areas - Wealden Local Plan Issues Options and Recommendations 1 Overview 1.0.1 One of Wealden's District Council's principal assets is the high quality of its environment, including its historic environment and landscape. The District has a dispersed and varied settlement pattern, set within different landscape areas, with a number of small market towns, villages and hamlets. Each settlement has its own unique characteristics and functions, depending on its location and historical influences. Overview 1.0.2 Where there are areas of special historic and architectural interest, the District 1 Council as Local Planning Authority has a duty to designate these as conservation areas and set out a positive strategy for the conservation and enjoyment of the historic environment, whilst understanding its significance, the wider social, cultural, economic and environmental benefits of the area, and ensuring that all development within the conservation areas and their setting makes a positive contribution to enhance local character and distinctiveness. 1.0.3 There are currently 26 conservation areas within the part of Wealden District for which the Council is the Local Planning Authority(1). The Council also has a duty under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas Act) 1990 to determine whether any further parts of their area should be designated as conservation areas and, if appropriate, designate those parts accordingly. 1.0.4 This document relates to the initial assessment of the 26 existing areas and an identified potential 12 new conservation areas in line with a methodology approved by Historic England (formerly English Heritage). 1.0.5 Recommendations and preferred options for testing are provided for each existing area to help assess whether the area still merits designation and identifies preferred options for testing for alteration of the designated boundary of the current area where identified against agreed criteria(2). 1.0.6 The document also identifies recommendations for designation of new areas and options for their boundaries(3). 1.0.7 Chapter 7 identifies all the other alternative areas considered throughout the District against the methodology approved by Historic England, but which did not meet the Selection of Areas criteria(4). 1.0.8 This document supports the 2015 Issues and Options Consultation on the Wealden District Local Plan Review and this is your opportunity to have your say on the proposed changes to the existing conservation areas in your District and the designation of new conservation areas. Chapter 8 identifies the consultation that has so far taken place relating to the conservation areas; provides guidance on this particular consultation relating to the existing and proposed conservation areas, and areas dismissed; and also identifies 1 Wealden District also covers part of the South Downs National Park, but is no longer the Planning Authority for that area 2 see Chapter 4 3 Chapters 5 and 6 4 See Background Paper and Methodology attached at Appendix 1 3 Wealden Local Plan Conservation Areas - Wealden Local Plan Issues Options and Recommendations 1 future consultation opportunities relating to the conservation areas within the Local Plan Overview process. 1.0.9 The Issues and Options 2015 consultation period on the Local Plan Review will run from Monday 19th October 2015 and 5pm on Monday 30th November 2015. We ask that wherever possible for you to fill in the questionnaire or submit your response on-line using our ‘Objective’ consultation system at http://wealden.objective.co.uk/portal/ or submit an electronic form by e-mail to [email protected]. Alternatively you may submit a paper questionnaire to Planning Policy at [email protected]. 1.0.10 If you wish to contact the Council with any queries in reference to this document, then please contact the Planning Policy Team at: [email protected] or 01892 602008 1.0.11 Further information about the consultation process, including previous consultations and next stages in the process, are provided in Chapter 8. Data Protection Act 1998 and Freedom of Information Act 2000 Representations cannot be treated in confidence. The Council will provide names and associated representations on its website, but will not publish personal information such as telephone numbers, e-mail addresses or private addresses. By submitting representations on the Conservation Area Appraisal, you confirm that you agree to this and accept responsibility for your comments. 4 Wealden Local Plan Conservation Areas - Wealden Local Plan Issues Options and Recommendations 2 Introduction 2.0.1 The Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 places a duty on every Local Planning Authority to determine which parts of their area are areas of special architectural or historic interest, the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance, and to designate those areas as conservation areas.(5) 2.0.2 Following guidance produced by English Heritage (now Historic England) and (6) (7) Central Government, a methodology has been agreed for the character appraisal of Introduction existing and potential new conservation areas within the District. This methodology includes a set of criteria for considering the review of existing conservation areas and the 2 designation of new conservation areas, ensuring a consistent approach to character appraisals. 2.0.3 In accordance with the Act, all the conservation areas within the District have been appraised in conformity with the written methodology, in order for consultation to take place. This has been undertaken in consultation with Parish/Town Councils and Local History Amenity Societies to identify possible options for change, along with desktop research and site visits. Where existing conservation areas are recommended to be retained, preferred options for testing have been identified for changes to the current designated boundary where appropriate. 2.0.4 In addition, the whole of the District has been reconsidered to ensure all areas worthy of designation have been identified. A desktop study and initial consultation with Parish/Town Councils and Local History Amenity Societies has been undertaken in accordance with the agreed methodology, to identify the potential for new conservation areas.This has been followed by further research and site visits to determine which areas of the District require further consideration and an initial conservation area appraisal. These appraisals have, in turn, lead to recommendations for new designations and preferred options for testing have been identified for boundaries to the new proposed conservation areas in conformity with the written methodology. 2.0.5 The consideration of existing and new conservation areas within the District is part of a wider scheme of work to enhance the Council's policy approach to heritage and conservation as part of the emerging Local Plan. This will also include the consideration of local areas of value and the identification of local heritage assets.