Agenda item

Report of the Director of Streetscene and Regulatory Services

The Cabinet Member considered a report of the Director of Streetscene and Regulatory Services which sought approval to undertake public consultation on the proposed Brownshill Green Conservation Area.

The proposed Brownshill Green Conservation Area was a commitment made in the Local Plan at Policy HE1 and draft documentation has now been produced to progress this. 

A Conservation Area recognises the unique characteristics of an area and seeks to protect and enhance these. An Area Appraisal and Management Plan have been developed to this end and subject to approval from the Cabinet Member, public comment was now sought on both documents.

In order to ensure that specific matters would be considered in the context of the Appraisal and Management Plan, limited changes to Permitted Development rights were being proposed, via an Article 4 Direction, which would result in planning applications being submitted in these circumstances.

Following site walks and character analysis of Brownshill Green, the defining special characteristics have been identified in the Conservation Area Appraisal which, alongside the Management Plan serve as an evidence base against which to test any future development proposals within the area. The documents were attached to the report as Appendix 1 and 2 respectively.

It should be noted that the proposed designation is located beside an established housing allocation, and whilst not therefore in conflict with this allocation, the designating of the conservation area should serve to further inform best possible design outcomes in due course.

Alongside the draft Appraisal and Management Plan, a draft Article 4 Direction would be included within the consultation, resulting in a proposed removal of some elements Permitted Development rights to ensure applications are made to the planning authority for works which may affect the special character of the conservation area. These applications would then be determined in accordance with national and local policy, including the Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan.

It should be noted that as part of the public consultation of an article 4 Direction it is appropriate to establish the implementation date of said Direction. It was proposed that the Direction come into force on 1 July 2022, with the caveat that should the public consultation vary the nature of the Conservation Area or Article 4, that this date may be moved to a later date with Cabinet approval but may not be made sooner.

Brownshill Green falls within Bablake Ward of the city and Ward Councillors J Birdi, T Jandu and S Keough attended the meeting for the consideration of this item. All three ward councillors welcomed the Conservation Area proposals and sought clarifications on a number issues including housing allocation/development within area, coverage of the proposed conservation area, classification and inclusion of land and properties and close border discussions. 

The Cabinet Member welcomed the discussion and was pleased that this was being progressed and stressed that while it would not stop development, developers would have to consider their proposals with the conservation area in mind. He encouraged ward councillors and residents to respond to the consultation as the purpose of this was to identify and protect the land with the most characteristics.

A report on the outcome of the consultation seeking approval to the designation of the area would be submitted to Cabinet in due course.

RESOLVED that, the Cabinet Member having considered the report and the discussions at the meeting, approves a public consultation, for six weeks during March and April 2022, on the Brownshill Green Conservation Area proposal.