.
AGENDA ITEM NO. 10
REPORT TO:
REPORT NO.
DATE:
LEAD MEMBER:
Executive Board
CPLO/56/09
15 December 2009
Mark Pritchard
(Housing and Planning)
Chief Planning Officer LEAD OFFICER:
CONTACT OFFICER: Anna Irwin (Tel: 292531)
SUBJECT: Bersham Conservation Area Character
Assessment and Management Plan
Esclusham WARD:
1. PURPOSE OF THE REPORT
1.1 To seek adoption of the proposed Bersham Conservation Area Character
Assessment and Management Plan.
2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
2.1 Section 69 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 requires Local Authorities to identify ‘areas of special architectural or historic interest the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance’ and formulate policies and proposals for their preservation and enhancement.
2.2 The purpose of the Conservation Area Character Assessment and Management
Plan is:
 To provide a clear definition of an area’s special architectural or historic interest.

To identify ways in which their unique characteristics can be preserved and enhanced through the Management Plan.

To strengthen the justification for designation.

To create a clear context for future development in accordance with conservation area policies in the development plan.

To provide a vehicle for engagement and awareness raising.

2.3 The Bersham Conservation Area was first designated in August 1975. This document will be the first Conservation Area Character Assessment and
Management Plan produced for Bersham as part of a review of all the Conservation
Areas in the County Borough. The main focus of the document is to define the area ’s special architectural and historic interest through the Character Assessment whilst raising the standard and quality of design through the Management Plan and more particularly through the Enhancement Plan and Design Guidance contained therein.
2.4 Consultation was carried out during October and November 2009 and showed general support for the Bersham Conservation Area Character Assessment and
Management Plan.
3 RECOMMENDATION
3.1 That the Executive Board adopts the attached Bersham Conservation Area
Character Assessment and Management Plan.
REASON FOR RECOMMENDATION
To ensure the future preservation and enhancement of the Bersham Conservation
Area.
Lawrence Isted
Chief Planning Officer
4. BACKGROUND INFORMATION
4.1 The Bersham Conservation Area was first designated in August 1975 and its boundary amended in 2003.
4.2 The Bersham Conservation Area is located within the wooded part of the upper reaches of the Clywedog Valley, which runs from Minera to Wrexham. The special character of the Conservation Area has been greatly influenced by the valley landscape setting and the historical and architectural association with John
Wilkinson’s ironworks and the Plas Power Estate. The remains of Wilkinson’s
Ironworks are an important link with the area’s nationally significant industrial past.
The old blast furnace and the octagonal foundry are both particular landmark buildings. In contrast the distinct ive “Estate architecture” style, comprising sandstone walling, slate roofing, heavy cast iron latticed windows and carved decorative barge-boards of much of the Conservation Area are all characteristic of the influence of the Plas Power Estate.
4.3 The draft Character Assessment and Management Plan has been divided into two parts. Part 1, the Character Assessment, defines the area
’s special architectural and historic interest by providing a summary of special character and a description of each of the character areas in more detail. The Conservation Area has been sub-divided in to 4 distinct areas of character as follows:

The Lane from the West Boundary to Mill Farm

The Area of the West Ironworks Site

The East Ironworks

Bunkers Hill and Y Ddol

4.4 Part 2 of the document is the Management Plan. This sets out proposals for the preservation and enhancement of each of the character areas, design guidance for both new build and the alteration of existing properties and a summary of existing
Conservation Area controls and funding sources available. There are no particular significant issues within the Conservation Area. As such, the main focus of the
Management Plan will be to raise the standard and quality of design within the
Conservation Area through the Enhancement Plan and Design Guidance.
The success or otherwise of these policies in preserving and enhancing the
Conservation Area will be subject to continuous monitoring and review.
4.5 The Character Assessment and Management Plan, enclosed in Appendix 2 , will be published in A4 format with illustrations and photographs to accompany the historical and annotated maps. It will also be made available as a bilingual and large text document. All documents will be available for a nominal sum and in time will be placed on the Council’s website.
5. CONSULTATION
5.1 Consultation on the document was carried out during October and November 2009.
This involved the Community Council, Council Members and a range of organisations and groups with an interest in the historic environment and the local area. Statutory bodies such as Cadw were also consulted. Public consultation included a public display in the reception area of the Lambpit Street offices.
Members of the Public were also invited to discuss the proposals with the
Conservation Officer at the Bersham Parish Hall on the 9 th November 2009. The consultation showed general support for the Bersham Conservation Area Character
Assessment and Management Plan. The points raised by the consultation and recommended responses are summarised in Appendix 1 .
5.2 The issue was referred to the Planning Committee on 7 December 2009. The
Planning Committee ’s recommendations will be reported orally to the Executive
Board.
6. SCRUTINY COMMITTEE COMMENTS
6.1 Not Applicable.
7. IMPLICATIONS
7.1 Policy
7.1.1 Community Strategy
The proposed Bersham Conservation Area Character Assessment and
Management Plan accords in particular with the strategic priority:

Creating a place that cares for, and is proud of the environment: The Bersham
Conservation Area Character Assessment and Management Plan will help increase the appreciation and care of the historic built environment.

7.1.2 Unitary Development Plan (UDP)
The UDP states that,
‘the Council is committed to action to rectify the damage done in the past, to prevent further deterioration, and to conserve and enhance those landscape elements which form an important part of the local heritage and its residents’ quality of life.”
None
7.2 Budget. There are no budget implications.
7.3 Legal.
There are no legal implications.
7.4 Staffing. There are no staffing implications.
7.5 Equalities.
There are no implications.
BACKGROUND PAPERS LOCATION WEBSITE INFORMATION

APPENDIX 1
BERSHAM CONSERVATION AREA CHARACTER ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT PLAN
CONSULTATION SUMMARY
Ref.
Name 1 Representation Summary
1 Mark Walters -
CPAT
2 Resident
3 Resident
4 Resident
5 Wrexham Area
Civic Society
1. The character assessment is very detailed. The inclusion of the standard archaeological proposal within the Management plan is welcomed by the Trust.
Overall I think this document will greatly benefit the future conservation of this important industrial settlement and its immediate environs.
1. Error in report in respect of the Old Post Office. The flat roof garage has now been removed.
1. The area listed as the ironworks car park and designated as an area for enhancement has now been subdivided with part of the land now forming the garden area to Mill Farmhouse. The car park also serves the Church rather than the ironworks.
1. Suggest the inclusion of the area of land currently overgrown and adjacent the flyover as an area for potential enhancement.
1. The principal detrimental impacts on the character of the Conservation Area derive from the following: a. The A483 trunk road flyover: Could the visual/noise impacts be mitigated by additional tree/planting, noise baffles, additional planting? b. Road Signage: There is a plethora of large brown signs throughout the village which should be reviewed, rationalised and reduced to a minimum level. c. Traffic management and markings: The schemes throughout the village are very intrusive and further consideration should be given to the nature of any traffic problems and less damaging ways of solving them. d. Roadside boundary railings: Boundary treatments are key features and there is much that could be done by the council to improve matters.
2. We repeat comments regarding Tree Preservation Orders. Surely it is preferable for any trees of significance to be subject of T.P.O’s?
3. St Mary’s is described in paragraph 4.9 but no reference is made to the fire damage suffered in recent years. If lessons can be learnt it may be of benefit to mention this incident.
2 Council Response
1. Noted.
1. This reference has been deleted from the document.
1. The plan has been amended to remove the residential curtilage from the area of enhancement and the remaining land is now referred to as the church car-park.
1. Agreed. The document has been amended accordingly.
1. a. Noted. Section 6.0 of the document has been amended and an area of land west of the flyover identified for potential tree-planting. b. Noted. Section 6.0 of the document has been amended to include proposals for a road signage audit. c. This is addressed in Section 6.0 of the document. Future Highway works must be designed in accordance with guidelines as set out in Section 7.0 of the document. d. This is addressed in Sections 5.0 and 6.0 of the document.
2. T.P.O’s are not normally served in Conservation
Areas unless a tree is considered to be under threat.
Conservation Area controls will provide the trees with immediate protection.
3. This is not considered to be relevant to the future preservation and enhancement of area.