Agenda item

Adoption of updated Northumberland Square Conservation Area Character Appraisal

To consider a report detailing the feedback received to the public consultation on the draft updated Northumberland Square Conservation Area Character Appraisal and the suggested amendments.

 

Minutes:

Cabinet received a report on the outcome of consultation in relation to an updated Character

Appraisal for the Northumberland Square conservation area.

 

The existing character appraisal for the conservation area had been adopted by Cabinet in

January 2014.

 

The Authority had recently been awarded funding from Historic England, through their High Streets Heritage Action Zones (HAZ) programme, to support physical improvements to the historic and built environment within the conservation area, and to facilitate more varied and vibrant uses, including cultural, leisure and tourism uses. As part of the delivery of the HAZ programme, the Authority was required to adopt a Management Strategy for the conservation area that set out a clear vision and objectives for the future preservation and enhancement of the conservation area. A robust Conservation Area Management Strategy must be informed by up-to-date evidence about existing character and appearance. This evidence was provided through Character Appraisals.

 

For Northumberland Square, the adopted 2014 Character Appraisal was not sufficiently up to date to support an effective Management Strategy. There had been several physical changes in the area and in addition, national and local planning policy and guidance had been updated since 2014. To reflect this, a small number of changes were proposed to the Character Appraisal and its photographs had been updated. However, the majority of the document remained as adopted in 2014. 

 

A copy of the draft updated Character Appraisal was attached as an Appendix to the report.

 

Historic England guidance advised that it was good practice for conservation area reviews to be carried out around every five years, depending on available resources and development pressure within an area.

In response to the consultation, Historic England provided some comments on the draft Character Appraisal. These comments, with the Planning team’s response, were summarised in the report.

 

It was recommended that the updated Character Appraisal be adopted by Cabinet as planning guidance and as a tool to support an emerging Management Strategy for the conservation area. Not doing this would harm the Local Planning Authority’s ability to continue to preserve and enhance the conservation area in accordance with its statutory duties.

 

Cabinet considered the following decision options: to accept the recommendations as set out in paragraph 1.2 of the report, or alternatively, to not approve the recommendations.

 

Resolved that (1) the feedback received to the public consultation on the draft updated Northumberland Square Conservation Area Character Appraisal and the suggested amendments be noted; and

(2) the updated Northumberland Square Conservation Area Character Appraisal as planning guidance be adopted.

 

(Reason for decision: Having an up-to-date Character Appraisal in place supports the Authority in its statutory duty to preserve or enhance the character and appearance of its conservation areas. It is also in line with local and national planning policy and guidance.

 

Funding has recently been secured from Historic England through their HAZ programme to support enhancements in this conservation area. A condition of the funding is that a Management Strategy, informed by a Character Appraisal, will be prepared for the conservation area. The existing Character Appraisal, adopted in 2014, is not sufficiently up to date to support an effective Management Strategy.

 

Historic England welcome the proposed updated Character Appraisal.)

Supporting documents: