BOROUGH OF POOLE
ECONOMY OVERVIEW & SCRUTINY COMMITTEE
NOVEMBER 2010
CHESTER ROAD AND HECKFORD PARK CONSERVATION AREA CHARACTER
APPRAISALS AND MANAGEMENTS PLANS: AND ADOPTION
1.0
PURPOSE
1.1
The Chester Road and Heckford Park Conservation Area Appraisals and
Management Plans have now been developed for adoption as resolved by
Council on 15th June 2010.
2.0
RECOMMENDATIONS:
2.1
The Portfolio Holder with responsibility for Planning and Regeneration be
requested to approve:1) The adoption of the Chester Road and Heckford Park Conservation Area
Appraisals and Management Plans as attached (Appendix A).
2) That these Chester Road and Heckford Park Conservation Area
Appraisals and Management Plans be adopted with any changes to detail
and minor wording to be delegated to Head of Planning and Regeneration
in consultation with the Portfolio Holder.
3.0
BACKGROUND ON THE DESIGNATION OF CONSERVATION
AREAS AND HOW CONTROLS ARE IMPLEMENTED:
3.1
DESIGNATION:
3.2
Local authorities have the power to designate Conservation Areas as any
area of “special architectural or historic interest the character or appearance
of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance”. This special character is
assessed against local and regional rather than national importance as is the
case with listing buildings. The historic layout of roads, paths and boundaries;
characteristic building and paving materials; public and private spaces, such
as gardens parks and greens; trees and street furniture all of which contribute
to a unique local identity. The Borough of Poole now has 23 Conservation
Areas including these which were designated this year on 15th June 2010.
3.3
Following the designation of Conservation Areas it is good practice to develop
Conservation Area Appraisals and Management Plans. The established
protocol within the Borough of Poole is that these Appraisals are then brought
back to committee before being formally adopted.
3.4
These can be used by Development Management officers to support planning
decisions and at appeal.
4.0
DEMOLITION:
4.1
Applications for consent to totally or substantially demolish any building over
115m³ and some walls within a Conservation Area must be made to the Local
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Planning Authority. These are usually considered alongside a planning
application for a replacement building, hopefully one that is appropriate for the
area and streetscape. There is a presumption in favour of retaining Positive
Buildings and other features that contribute to and form the character and
local identity of an area.
5.0
MINOR DEVELOPMENTS:
5.1
Within Conservation Areas owners must apply for Planning Permission for
minor alterations that would normally be permitted elsewhere, to ensure that
changes do not detract from the area’s appearance including various types of
cladding, dormer windows, satellite dishes and house extensions to the sides
of property.
6.0
TREES:
6.1
Trees make a significant contribution to the character of Poole’s Conservation
Areas. Works to trees in Conservations Areas (normally above 4.5 cm in
diameter and 1.5 m above the ground) require notification to the Local
Planning Authority 6 weeks prior to carrying these out.
7.0
GUIDANCE AND MANAGEMENT OF CONERVATION AREAS:
7.1
The designation of Conservation Areas is only the beginning of recognising
the special interest of an area as their character needs to be more fully
recognised, evaluated, recorded more fully in Appraisals. Conservation Area
Appraisals provide the justification for the designation of areas and inform
property owners of the value of the areas they live in and the need to meet
more detailed planning requirements if they are to be maintained. Appraisals
are important to carry out to gain community support and interest in
maintaining the physical fabric that distinguishes one area from another.
Management Plans support the plan-making for the future direction of
Conservation Areas that is necessary to ensure that development occurs in a
way that not only preserves but also enhances an area and enriches the
community.
8.0
BACKGROUND TO CHESTER ROAD AND HECKFORD PARK
CONSERVATION AREAS:
8.1
These Conservation Areas were the last to be designated in the Borough in
June 2010. The designation of these two new conservation areas was a long
term aspiration for the Borough of Poole. The possibility of designating them
was raised in Ward Walks and reinforced by the Borough of Poole
Characterisation Study. Action was galvanised by the Chester Road/Forest
Road Area being pointed out by a local Planning Agent to an Inspector at an
appeal as being “of a more cohesive architectural quality than Branksome
Park” and the closing of the Tatnam Public House together with enquiries
regarding the possibility of its demolition. Initial surveys were carried out in
2009. Reports were taken to the Economy Overview and Scrutiny Committee
on 1st April 2010. This was followed by an eight week period of public
consultation, with letters sent out to all the affected residents and information
posted on the Borough of Poole website, public meetings at Longfleet Baptist
Church and St Aldhelms Church. Cabinet approved the designation of these
Conservation Areas on 8th June 2010 and Council on 15th June 2010. The
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legislative requirements were also met by the publication of a notice in the
London Gazette.
9.0
CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISALS AND MANAGEMENT PLANS
9.1
The latest drafts of the Chester Road and Heckford Park Conservation Area
Appraisals and Management Plans are attached Appendix A:
Stephen Thorne, Head of Planning and Regeneration.
Telephone 01202 633 310
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