Agenda item

Report of Specialist Advisor (Conservation).

The committee considered the report of the Special Advisor (Conservation) seeking confirmation of the Article 4 Direction for the Park Close Conservation Area.

Members were reminded that the designation of Park Close as a Conservation Area arose following a definition of the special architectural and historic interest of the area was compiled in the form of a detailed character analysis. The Council, in its role as local planning authority, sought to manage any significant changes to the area in ways that maintained and strengthened its special interest.

The Park Close Conservation Area Management Appraisal was considered by Cabinet on 23 October 2013. It set out the special nature of the area with a recommendation for protection of the setting of the heritage assets. At its meeting on 4 March 2014, the Planning committee supported the making of an Article 4 Direction for Park Close.  The special nature of Park Close was partially controlled by virtue of its being a Conservation Area, however, even in a Conservation Area, householders had “permitted development rights” that, if implemented without oversight, could erode the special historic and architectural character and appearance of Park Close.  Members therefore also recommended that subject to consultation with the residents; this position should be modified by the local planning authority.

The Direction under Article 4, attached as appendix A of the report, arranged matters so that homeowners would need to seek specific council permission for works such as; replacement windows, doors and bargeboards, the removal of front gardens to create parking spaces and other works which currently would not normally require planning consent.  There would be no charge to the homeowner for an Article 4 application to seek permission for works controlled by such.  The administrative and other costs for considering such an application would be met by the Council.

Before deciding whether to confirm the Direction, members were requested to consider the results of the statutory consultation that had taken place.  The consultees were listed within the report and the representations received were included as appendix D of the report.

The Notice of the making of the Direction had been communicated to all interested parties and local media.  A specified period of 28 days was given for the receipt of representations on the Direction. The Notice included the proposed date on which the Direction, if confirmed after any representations have been considered, would come into force, which would therefore be 31 January 2016.

RESOLVED: (Unanimous) That the Article 4 Direction for the Park Close Conservation Area be confirmed.