1 Nether Heyford is a place of special character and historic interest. This appraisal and management plan sets out the features that contribute to its distinctiveness and identifies opportunities for its protection and enhancement. Nether Heyford CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISAL Heading Adopted March 2012 1 Summary—Nether Heyford Conservation Area 2 Summary of special interest Key characteristics of the or rendered, dominate later conservation area include: buildings. Roofs vary from Nether Heyford developed over thatch, slate, clay and concrete several key phases of growth. The • The contrasting character of tiles. scattered farmsteads and cottages of the large open village green the late seventeenth and early and the intimacy of Church • Outbuildings and walls are eighteenth century and the infill Street. common and contribute to the development of the nineteenth character. century largely formed the historic • The variation in the position of core of the settlement we see today. buildings along the streetscene • The large tree lined open The village green is a key feature with houses built both set village green lies at the heart of and focal point in the village with against the road and set back the village both physically and traditional cottages and modern from the road either facing or functionally. houses enclosing the space. In gable end onto the road. contrast to the spacious open green the building and walls along Church • The two main phases of Street create an intimate, compact development are reflected in feeling. the materials and architectural style of the buildings. Most buildings reflect the local vernacular being constructed in local stone and to a modest scale. A • The predominate architectural style is vernacular farmhouses number of the more significant buildings were designed to reflect the and cottages. Later buildings include Victorian and Victorian architectural style of the period — Classical and Victorian Gothic. Gothic buildings. • Buildings are generally 2 with a The green spaces in and around the few 3 storeys. There is a village significantly contribute to its variation in height creating a character. varied but harmonious streetscape. • Coursed ironstone and limestone are the predominate building materials, with some building using banding courses. 2 Red brick, sometimes painted Summary—Nether Heyford Conservation Area 3 Summary of issues and opportunities • Encourage the appropriate repair and maintenance of all Change is inevitable in most buildings and structures within conservation areas and it is not the the area to ensure the quality intention of the designation to of the environment is prevent the continued evolution of maintained or enhanced. places. The challenge within conservation areas is to manage • Ensure that all new change in a way that maintains, development is sustainable, reinforces and enhances the special high quality, well designed and qualities of the area. responds to its context in terms of urban design and its The protection and enhancement of architectural design. the special character of the conservation area owes much to • Promote the sympathetic positive management. In addition to management of public spaces the existing national statutory and streetscape within the legislation and local planning controls conservation area. Close the following opportunities for working with the statutory enhancement have been identified: undertakers on new works, signage and services may limit • Establish a list of locally some of the harmful affect on significant buildings and the public space. policies for their protection. • Encourage the protection of surviving historic detail and the reinstatement of appropriately detailed fittings in buildings considered to be of significance to the character and appearance of the conservation area. The use of Article 4 Directions which remove the permitted development rights of dwelling houses will help to 3 achieve this. Summary—Nether Heyford Conservation Area 4 4 Figure 3: Nether Heyford Conservation Area. Copyright Bluesky World International Ltd. (May 2009) 1. Introduction and Planning Policy Context 5 1.1 What is a conservation area? whether boundaries should be This draft appraisal is the subject of • South Northamptonshire revised. It is now considered public consultation and thereafter will Supplementary Planning Conservation Areas were introduced appropriate to review the Nether be put forward for adoption by the Guidance “Conservation Areas” under the Civic Amenities Act of Heyford Conservation Area in order Council to become a material 1967. The Act required local planning to further define its key consideration in the determination of 1.3 What does conservation area authorities to identify areas, as characteristics. planning applications within the status mean? opposed to individual buildings, of conservation area and its setting. special architectural or historic This document is an appraisal of the Conservation Area status provides interest and to designate them as Nether Heyford Conservation Area The appraisal is not intended to be the opportunity to promote the conservation areas. and is based on a standard recording comprehensive and omission of any protection and enhancement of the format derived from advice contained particular building, feature or space special character of the area. Since 1967 some 9,100 conservation in English Heritage's 2006 guidance should not be taken to imply that it is Designation confers a general control areas have been designated in ‘Conservation Area Appraisals’. not of interest. over development that could damage England, including 53 in the South the area's character. The details are Northamptonshire District. Nether By reviewing the conservation area This appraisal should be read in complex but can be summarised as: Heyford Conservation Area was and revising the appraisal for Nether conjunction with the wider national, • Most demolition requires originally designated in January Heyford the special character and regional and local planning policy permission and will be resisted 1992. appearance of the area can continue and guidance including Planning if the building makes a positive to be identified and protected. The Policy Guidance Statement 5: contribution to the area. 1.2 Planning Policy context conservation area appraisal and Planning for the Historic Environment • Some minor works are no management plan provide the basis under which a conservation area is longer “permitted development” The Planning (Listed Buildings and for making informed, sustainable considered to be a heritage asset and will require planning Conservation Areas) Act 1990 decisions in the positive which should be sustained and permission. Examples include provides the legislative framework management, protection and enhanced. external cladding and satellite for the protection of the nation’s enhancement of the conservation antennas. heritage of buildings and places of area. Other relevant documents include: • Most works to trees have to be architectural and historic interest. • Planning (Listed Buildings and notified to the Local Planning The appraisal seeks to provide a Conservation Areas) Act 1990 Authority for its consideration. Section 69 of the 1990 Act defines a clear understanding of the special • Planning Policy Statement 5: • Generally higher standards of conservation area as “an area of interest of Nether Heyford by Planning and the Historic design apply for new buildings architectural or historic interest the assessing how the historical Environment character and appearance of which it development of the town has and alterations to existing • The East Midlands Regional Plan, is desirable to preserve or enhance”. influenced the current form, ones. policies 2, 26, 27. analysing its present day character The 1990 Act also places a duty on and identifying opportunities for • The South Northamptonshire Local Planning Authorities to enhancements. Local Plan, saved policies EV9, EV10, EV11, EV16, EV36. consider “from time to time” whether 5 new areas should be designated or 2. Location, Topography and Geology 6 Figure 4: Nether Heyford is located to the west of Northampton and south east of Daventry. © Crown copyright. All rights reserved. 6 South Northamptonshire Council. 100022487 2011. 2. Location, Topography and Geology 7 2.1 Location for the county and identifies the the large scale removal in the late various Environmental Character C20 means it’s an open landscape. The village of Nether Heyford is Areas which make up the county’s located 6 miles south west of landscape. The valley is sparsely settled with Northampton just to the south of the sporadic farms and houses sited on busy A45 trunk road and less than a This study shows Nether Heyford to slopes away from the floodplain. mile from the A5 Watling Street. be within the Environmental Down stream of Flore more Located to the north of the district of Character Area of the Upper Nene significant settlements and South Northamptonshire the River Catchment and Watford Gap Area development are evident including Nene where Flore and Upper located within the Current Landscape Nether Heyford. Heyford parish form the northern Character Area of the Undulating hills boundary of the parish with Weedon and Valleys — Bugbrooke and The availability of local ironstone and to the west, Bugbrooke to the south Daventry. clays are reflected in the construction and east and Stone IX Churches to material of many of the properties in the west. The Grand Union Canal This