Issue - meetings

To receive the report of the Cabinet Member for Planning and Development

RESOLVED

(i)         That the representations and responses to the draft Conservation Area Appraisals and Management Plans for Storrington, Steyning, Billingshurst, Henfield and Pulborough (Church Place & Lower Street) be noted as set out in Appendices 1-5 of the report.

(ii)        That the Conservation Area Appraisals and Management Plans for Storrington, Steyning, Billingshurst, Henfield and Pulborough (Church Place & Lower Street) be approved as set out in Appendices 6-10 of the report, to be used in the determination of planning applications from 1^st March 2018.

(iii)       That the revised Conservation Area boundaries for Storrington, Steyning, Billingshurst, Henfield and Pulborough (Church Place & Lower Street) be approved as shown on the Conservation Area designation maps included in the report.

(iv)       That the Cabinet Member for Planning and Development be authorised to approve minor editorial changes prior to publication.

REASONS

(i)         To provide updated conservation guidance for planning officers in dealing with applications in the five settlements and Members in determining applications.

(ii)        To formally designate the amended Conservation Area boundaries.

The Cabinet Member for Planning and Development reported that the District’s historic environment was recognised and conserved through both local and statutory designation, and that it was home to over 1,860 listed buildings and 37 conservation areas.

The Council was required in law to review its conservation areas and at present only four of the 37 conservation areas had an adopted conservation area appraisal: Amberley, Bramber, Horsham and Slinfold.  Without appraisals setting out the significance of the areas, it was difficult for the Council to manage change positively in the remaining 33 conservation areas in the District.

It had therefore been decided to introduce a rolling programme of conservation area appraisals within the District, starting with the six areas currently experiencing the greatest development pressure:  Storrington, Steyning, Billingshurst, Henfield and Pulborough (Church Place & Lower Street).  Draft conservation area appraisals and management plans for these areas had been produced by specialist heritage consultants working closely with the Council’s Conservation Officer.

The draft conservation area appraisals and management plans had been approved by Cabinet on 20^th July 2017 for consultation purposes.  Before the consultation commenced, officers attended the relevant parish council meetings in July and August 2017 to discuss the proposals.

Summaries of the comments received during the consultation period and the responses to those comments were submitted. 

Cabinet was requested to adopt the final versions of the five Conservation Area Appraisals and Management Plans, incorporating revisions following consultation.   Once adopted, these documents would provide important guidance for applicants, residents and the Council and would help with the determination of planning applications in the relevant settlements.

The proposals were supported by the Planning and Development Policy Development Advisory Group.

RESOLVED

(i)         That the representations and responses to the draft Conservation Area Appraisals and Management Plans for Storrington, Steyning, Billingshurst, Henfield and Pulborough (Church Place & Lower Street) be noted as set out in Appendices 1-5 of the report.

(ii)        That the Conservation Area Appraisals and Management Plans for Storrington, Steyning, Billingshurst, Henfield and Pulborough (Church Place & Lower Street) be approved as set out in Appendices 6-10 of the report, to be used in the determination of planning applications from 1^st March 2018.

(iii)       That the revised Conservation Area boundaries for Storrington, Steyning, Billingshurst, Henfield and Pulborough (Church Place & Lower Street) be approved as shown on the Conservation Area designation maps included in the report.

(iv)       That the Cabinet Member for Planning and Development be authorised to approve minor editorial changes prior to publication.

REASONS

(i)         To provide updated conservation guidance for planning officers in dealing with applications in the five settlements and Members in determining applications.

(ii)        To formally designate the amended Conservation Area boundaries.