Decision details

The Cabinet approved the draft conservation area appraisals and management plans for Wall and Wigginton Conservation Areas for consultation.

Conservation Area Appraisals and Management Plans should be undertaken regularly on a rolling programme.  They are an essential part of the process which aims to preserve and enhance the character and appearance of the conservation area and provide a foundation for future decision making.  

The understanding of an area gained through undertaking an appraisal can help to inform policy and decision making through the Development Management process. Conservation Area Appraisals and Management Plans can also help to form a framework for Development Management guidelines.  They can provide a sound defence on appeal in relation to various policies and Development Management decisions.  The Wall and Wigginton Appraisals and Management Plans will form part of the evidence base for future reviews of the Local Plan.

A Conservation Area Management Plan can provide the basis for developing management proposals which aim to preserve or enhance the conservation area. Under Section 71 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 the Council has a duty ‘from time to time to formulate and publish proposals for the preservation and enhancement of any parts of their area which are conservation areas’. The management proposals take the form of mid- to long-term strategy, setting objectives for addressing the issues and recommendations for action arising from the appraisal and identifying any further or more detailed work needed for their implementation.

It is accepted best practise that involving the local community in evaluating what makes an area special, and where the boundaries of a conservation area should be drawn, is integral to the appraisal process. To this end a robust method of public consultation is followed which comprises the following

•      seeking permission from the Cabinet to consult on a draft Appraisal and Management Plan;

•      a 6 week consultation period, including letters to all residents residing within, and adjacent to, the relevant conservation area, the Parish Council, local civic groups and agents, with documents being made available over the internet and paper copies provided on request;

•      full consideration of representations received and amendment of the document, as necessary;

•      presentation of the document at a public meeting, generally a meeting of the relevant Parish or Town Council;

•      a report to Overview and Scrutiny (Economic Growth, Environment and Development), taking on board comments received, and seeking approval of the revised document;

•      if agreed, the report and document are returned to Cabinet and subsequently Full Council for formal ratification.

1.    The alternative option is not to undertake conservation area appraisals. This would weaken the local planning authority’s ability to seek to preserve or enhance the special character and appearance of the area when considering planning applications.

2.    An alternative would be not to carry out such robust public consultation. This is not considered to be best practise and the final documents would not carry the same amount of weight in the planning process.