Conservation Areas, Locally Listed Historic Assets and Archaeology

y BN.10 Conservation Areas, Locally Listed Historic Assets and Archaeology A. Conservation Areas There will be a presumption in favour of the retention of unlisted buildings that make a positive contribution to the character and appearance of a Conservation Area. Consent for total demolition of unlisted buildings will only be granted where the detailed design of the replacement can demonstrate that it will preserve or enhance the character or appearance of the conservation area, unless any harm is outweighed by public benefits. The Local Planning Authority may use, as appropriate, any powers available to it to support the restoration, reuse or improvement of assets, features and buildings that make a negative contribution to conservation areas B. Locally Listed Historic Assets Development that would lead to the demolition or loss of significance of a locally listed historic asset will be assessed in relation to the scale of harm or loss and the significance of the asset. Change to locally listed historic assets should be carried out using traditional detailing and using traditional materials. C. Archaeology Development will not be permitted that results in substantial harm to Scheduled Monuments or other archaeological remains of national importance, and their settings unless in wholly exceptional circumstances. There will be a presumption in favour of the preservation of locally and regionally important sites, except where the applicant can demonstrate that the benefits of development will outweigh the harm to archaeological remains. The Council will require that any remains of archaeological value are properly evaluated prior to the determination of the planning application. Where planning permission is granted for development which will have an adverse effect on archaeological remains, the Council will require that an agreed programme of archaeological investigation and recording precedes development. within and outside a conservation area, including to unlisted buildings, should not adversely affect its setting by impacting on important views and groups of buildings within and beyond the boundary. 7.3.14 Gardens and open spaces that add to the historic appearance and interest of conservation areas should be protected from development. In appropriate cases, the Local Planning Authorities may require change of use applications to be accompanied by other relevant applications, e.g. for conservation area or listed building consent, to ensure that all relevant issues pertaining to the proposed change of use can be considered together. The Local Planning Authorities will seek directions to restrict permitted development rights under Article 4 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1995 as required in order to maintain areas of high-quality townscape. The Local Planning Authorities will also consider, when appropriate, the designation of new conservation areas and the review of the existing areas. 7.3.15 Unlisted buildings can often contribute significantly to the special architectural or historic importance of conservation areas. Buildings that do not merit statutory listing often contribute as much to the overall character of conservation areas as those that are listed buildings. This policy seeks to retain the integrity and form of unlisted buildings in the conservation area and resist alterations and demolitions to these buildings where this would have an adverse effect upon the overall character of the conservation area, unless outweighed by public benefits. Furthermore, the demolition of unlisted buildings will only be supported where details of an appropriate replacement building are provided. In such cases a condition will be imposed to ensure that demolition does not take place until a contract for redevelopment has been entered into and planning permission for those works has been granted. This will prevent unsightly gaps appearing as a result of demolition far in advance of redevelopment. 7.3.16 Warwick District Council maintains its own list of parks and gardens that are of historical interest, but which do not at present meet the criteria for inclusion on the national register. These are important in landscape terms, and often form the setting of listed buildings. Whilst it is recognised that they are of less significance nationally, they are important within a local or regional context. The purpose of the list is to ensure that the case for protecting such parks and gardens is taken into account fully when considering development proposals and to act as a spur to the formulation of positive restoration proposals. A list of these locally important parks and gardens is set out below (this list is not exhaustive and is based upon research evidence available at the time of plan preparation). The boundaries of these parks and gardens will be defined in due course. Figure 5: Registered Parks within Warwick District Locally Important Parks and Gardens Barford House, Barford The Dell, Leamington Spa Old Manor House, Bishops Tachbrook Woodcote, Leek Wootton Bushwood Hall, Bushwood Wootton Court and Arboretum, Leek Wootton Eathorpe Hall, Eathorpe Offchurch Bury, Offchurch Haseley Manor, Haseley Sherbourne Park, Sherbourne Hatton House, Hatton Friends Meeting House Garden, Warwick Honiley House / Hall, Honiley Longbridge Manor, Warwick Abbey Fields, Kenilworth Mill Garden, Warwick North Chase (Rudfyn Manor), Kenilworth Pageant House Gardens, Warwick Parliament Piece, Kenilworth Priory Park, Warwick Christchurch Gardens, Leamington Spa St John’s House Garden and Allotments, Warwick Clarendon Square Gardens, Leamington St Nicholas Park, Warwick Former Arboretum, Wych Elm Drive Wappenbury Hall, Wappenbury Lansdowne Crescent and Circus Greys Mallory, Bishops Tachbrook 7.3.17 Additions can be made if new parks and gardens are found to be worthy of inclusion. Conversely, existing areas on the list can be removed if, through further research, they are found to be unsuitable for inclusion. The Planning Authority will consult Warwickshire Gardens Trust on planning applications affecting sites included on the local register. Locally Listed Historic Assets 7.3.18 The Local Planning Authorities will maintain a list of locally important historic assets that do not meet the statutory criteria for listing. 7.3.19 Within conservation areas, permitted development rights may be removed by the service of an Article 4 Direction on locally listed assets. 7.3.20 Where locally listed historic assets are not within a conservation area, the Local Planning Authority may consider approving an Article 4 Direction to control aspects of development and demolition. Locally listed historic assets will be designated both within and outside conservation areas. Archaeology 7.3.21 Archaeological remains are a finite resource. They are often fragile and therefore vulnerable to damage and destruction. They contain information that is invaluable, both for its own sake and for its role within education, leisure and tourism. South Warwickshire is rich in archaeological remains and information on them is held in the County Sites and Monuments Record, maintained by Warwickshire Museum. 7.3.22 Applicants for planning permission on the strategic sites will be expected to consult the Warwickshire Historic Environment Record (HER) to determine whether there are known heritage assets of as yet unknown significance within their proposed site. Additionally, there may be archaeological sites as yet undiscovered that will not be recorded on the HER and, even in areas where no archaeology has been recorded, evaluation may be required to confirm the presence / absence of remains. 7.3.23 In accordance with Government advice set out in the NPPF , there will be a presumption in favour of the physical preservation in situ of nationally important archaeological remains and their settings, whether scheduled or not. Other important archaeological remains can be of either local or regional importance. They may also become scheduled in the future and it will be important to protect them from the adverse effects of development. 7.3.24 The Local Planning Authorities recognise that there will be cases where the benefits of development outweigh harm to archaeological remains, taking into account their significance. In such circumstances, provision of archaeological investigation and recording will be required as part of a Section 106 agreement or planning condition. 7.3.25 The Local Planning Authorities will, in conjunction with Historic England, the National Trust and other interested parties, seek to secure the management and maintenance of archaeological sites, including encouraging the provision of interpretative facilities for education and recreational purposes. In cases where incorrect information has been supplied, the Local Planning Authorities may reconsider local list designations. 7.3.26 It is not always sufficient to rely on existing information to allow an informed decision to be made about the archaeological consequences of a proposal. In such circumstances, the applicant will be required to arrange for a field evaluation to be undertaken before the planning application is determined. Regardless of circumstances, the decision-making process is always easier if any archaeological aspects of a development site can be considered early in the planning process. 7.3.27 The Local Planning Authorities will, in conjunction with Historic England, the National Trust and other interested parties, seek to secure the management and maintenance of archaeological sites, including encouraging the provision of interpretative facilities for education and recreatio