CABINET – 13th March 2008 Report of the Director of Development ITEM 11 Barrow upon Soar, Rothley and Quorn Conservation Area Character Appraisals Purpose of the Report To request formal adoption of the Conservation Area Character Appraisals for Barrow upon Soar, Rothley and Quorn. Recommendation 1. That the Character Appraisals for Barrow upon Soar, Rothley and Quorn Conservation Areas be adopted. 2. That delegated authority is given to the Director of Development, in consultation with the Lead Member for Planning, to make minor amendments to Barrow upon Soar, Rothley and Quorn Conservation Area Appraisals prior to publication. Reason 1. To provide adopted guidance that identifies the special character and creates a sound basis for the management of Barrow upon Soar, Rothley and Quorn Conservation Areas. 2. To allow the Director of Development to make minor amendments to documents before they are finalised for publication. Policy Context A priority of the Council’s Corporate Plan is to “Sustain Charnwood’s economy by ensuring that the borough remains attractive to investors and residents alike through the conservation and enhancement of the natural and built environment”. An objective of the Development Directorate’s Delivery Plan 2007-8 is to “Review and prepare Character Appraisals and Management Plans for the Borough’s 36 designated Conservation Areas on a rolling programme of 6 per annum”. The Department of the Environment’s Planning Policy Guidance 15 on “Planning and the Historic Environment” encourages local planning authorities to pursue their duties under Section 71 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, to formulate proposals to preserve and enhance conservation areas and of the need to consult widely in doing so. It also contains several policies that are relevant to conserving the character of conservation areas. Local Plan Policy EV/1- Design, seeks to ensure a high standard design of all new development and that the design should be compatible with the locality and utilises materials appropriate to the locality. The Character Appraisal is a requirement of Best Value Performance Indicator BV 219b. It will inform the preparation of management proposals for the conservation area. 53 Background Barrow upon Soar Conservation Area was designated in January 1976. Rothley Conservation Area was designated in December 1972 by Leicestershire County Council and extended in March 1997 by Charnwood Borough Council. Quorn Conservation Area was designated in August 1977 and extended in January 1991. A Conservation Area Character Appraisal is intended to be an objective statement and factual description of the local distinctiveness 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 also 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. Public consultation on the draft document has taken place through public meetings in Barrow upon Soar on 11th February 2008, in Rothley on 19th February 2008, and in Quorn on 21st February 2008. Final versions of the documents have now been produced (see Appendices 1, 3 & 5) and are submitted to Cabinet for adoption as guidance. Summaries of the responses received at the public meetings are set out in Appendices 2, 4 & 6. The adopted Character Appraisals will be used to implement management proposals for the conservation areas using further guidance from English Heritage, “Preserving the Special Character of Conservation Areas: Management Proposals”. Financial Implications None Risk Management Risk Identified Likelihood Impact Risk Management Actions Planned Appraisals not adopted Low Low Adopt appraisals incorporating revisions results in failure on BVPI 219b Management Plans not Low Low Adopt Management Plans incorporating adopted results in revisions failure on local indicator in Service Delivery Plan Key Decision: No Background Papers: Leading in Leicestershire. Corporate Plan to 2011/12. Charnwood Borough Council The Department of the Environment Planning Policy Guidance Note 15: Planning and the Historic Environment Officers to Contact: Mark Fennell 01509 634748 [email protected] Anthony Gimpel 01509 634971 [email protected] 54 Appendix 1 BARROW UPON SOAR CONSERVATION AREA CHARACTER APPRAISAL INTRODUCTION 2 Planning policy context ASSESSMENT OF SPECIAL INTEREST 4 LOCATION AND SETTING HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT 4 Origins and development Archaeological interest Population SPATIAL ANALYSIS 7 Plan form Townscape Key views, vistas and landmarks CHARACTER ANALYSIS 9 Building types, layouts and uses Key listed buildings and structures Key unlisted buildings Coherent groups Building materials and architectural details Parks, gardens and trees Biodiversity Detrimental features DEFINITION OF SPECIAL INTEREST 16 CONSERVATION AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN 17 General principles Procedures to ensure consistent decision-making Enforcement strategy Article 4 Direction General condition Review of the boundary Possible buildings for spot listing Enhancement Proposals for economic development and regeneration Management and protection of important trees, green spaces and biodiversity Monitoring change Consideration of resources Summary of issues and proposed actions Developing management proposals Community involvement Advice and guidance BIBLIOGRAPHY 23 LISTED BUILDINGS IN BARROW UPON SOAR 24 Barrow upon Soar Conservation Area 55 Character Appraisal Page 1 Introduction Barrow upon Soar Conservation Area was designated in January 1976. It covers an area of 29.8 ha (71 acres). This material has been reproduced from Ordnance Survey digital mapping with the permission N of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office. © Crown copyright Licence No 100023558 Barrow upon Soar Conservation Area The boundaries of the Conservation Area generally define the extent of the settlement, as it existed at the end of the 19th century. The Area includes much of the medieval heart of the settlement, focussing on Holy Trinity Church which is Grade II* listed and its neighbouring almshouses and the principal roads through the village: High Street, North Street, Beveridge Street and South Street. The Conservation Area includes a large sweep of land to take in the stretch of the Grand Union Canal from Mill Lane to Barrow Deep Lock. The Area contains a broad range of residential and commercial development that is representative of the settlement from the medieval period through to the Victorian and Edwardian expansion of the village in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The Area also contains residential development alongside the canal up to the present. The purpose of this appraisal is to examine the historical development of the Conservation Area and to describe its present appearance in order to assess its special architectural and historic interest. The appraisal is then used to inform the consideration of management and development proposals within the Area. 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 settlement and surrounding area; • 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 settlement 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. An assessment of the general condition of the buildings and spaces within the Area is included. The main issues and proposed management actions are summarised. Recommendations for developing longer term management proposals for the area are suggested. Barrow upon Soar Conservation Area 56 Character Appraisal Page 2 Planning Policy Context A conservation area is an area of special architectural or historic interest whose character or appearance should be preserved or enhanced. In making decisions on potential development within a conservation area, the Council is required to ‘pay attention to the desirability of preserving or enhancing the character or appearance of the area’. Permission will not be granted for proposals that are likely to harm the character or appearance of a conservation area. Sections 69 and 72 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990. Planning Policy Guidance note 15: Planning and the Historic Environment says that special attention should be paid when considering proposals for development in a conservation area. The Regional Spatial Strategy for the East Midlands published in March 2005 advises local authorities to develop strategies that avoid damage to the region’s cultural assets.