BOROUGH OF POOLE

ECONOMY OVERVIEW & SCRUTINY COMMITTEE

2nd SEPTEMBER 2010

CHESTER ROAD AND HECKFORD PARK CONSERVATION AREA CHARACTER APPRAISALS AND MANAGEMENTS PLANS: AND ADOPTION

1.0  PURPOSE

1.1  The draft text for the Chester Road and Heckford Park Conservation Area Appraisals and Management Plans have now been developed for adoption as resolved by Cabinet on 8th June 2010.

2.0 RECOMMENDATIONS:

2.1 Members agree to support the adoption of the Chester Road and Heckford Park Conservation Area Appraisals and Management Plans.

2.2 That the 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 collaboration 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 on 8th June this year. (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 documents then become Supplementary Planning Documents and can be used by Development Management officers to support planning decisions and at appeal.

3.5 DEMOLITION:

3.6 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 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 and Positive Buildings and other features that contribute to and form the character and local identity of an area.

3.7 MINOR DEVELOPMENTS:

3.8 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

3.5 TREES:

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.

3.6 GUIDANCE AND MANAGEMENT OF CONERVATION AREAS:

3.7 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.

4.0  BACKGROUND TO CHESTER ROAD AND HECKFORD PARK CONSERVATION AREAS:

4.1 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 Overview and Scrutiny Group. 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. The legislative requirements were also met by the publication of a notice in the London Gazette.

5.0 DRAFT CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISALS AND MANAGEMENT PLANS

5.1 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 Services

Telephone 01202 633310

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