What is a Conservation Area? Why Review Church Gate? At Risk Area - - PDF document

08/03/17 1 Church Gate Conservation Area Church Gate Conservation Area - Update

• Review of

Conservation Area

• Why Review
• The process
• Findings
• New Documents
• Public consultation

What is a Conservation Area?

• ‘Area of special architectural or historic interest which it is

thought important enough to preserve or enhance’

• Designated by City Council
• 24 in the city
• Range from city centre to outer villages
• Primarily used to guide planning process
• Church Gate not a typical CA

Why Review Church Gate?

• At Risk
• CA’s review 2015
• Changes since 2006
• Previous character

appraisal in need of updating and enriching

• No stand-alone

management plan

• Way of addressing issues

in the area

Review Process

• What is it’s special

character?

• What are the main

challenges?

• What are the
• pportunities and

threats?

• How can these be

addressed?

• Still a conservation

area?

2006 Appraisal

• Adopted in 2006; 3

character Areas:

• Commercial Zone along

Church Gate and Bond St

• Quiet Zone around great

meeting chapel and Butt Close Lane

• Industrial Zone around

Short St

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Commercial Zone

• Building stock typically mid-

late Victorian; Some older buildings

• Some larger Victorian factory/

warehouse buildings

• Mid-late 20th century infill –

typically in scale

• Very little recent development
• Few examples of grand

architecture

• Historic character of streets as

small, varying units remains

Quiet Zone

• Small area mix
• f uses
• High quality

listed buildings

• Important trees

and greenery

• Car parks

Industrial Zone

2006 2016

Other Changes: Highcross & Hoardings

Erosion of character Ongoing Enforcement Pressure

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Improvements What makes it special?

• Historic fabric – archaeology
• Important historic route and

views

• Surviving fragment of wider

area

• Eclectic range of buildings

from many eras

• Unique sense of place
• Great Meeting and

surrounds

Medieval 1820s 1870s Surviving Fragment

1886 2016

View of St Margaret's Greenery & Open Space

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Character as a shopping street Hidden details Historic Public realm Enhancement Opportunities Gap sites Public Realm

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Other Issues

• Lack of historic shopfronts
• Painting of upper floors
• Signage
• Loss of historic businesses
• Vacant properties
• Unsympathetic treatment
• f key buildings

Character Appraisal

• New Character Appraisal
• Sets out character of the

area and its components

• Identifies what is special
• Informs planning

process

What’s new?

• New boundary
• More details
• Every building surveyed
• Revised character map
• Open spaces given

more focus

• Views emphasised

Defining the character

Views Pressures Setting

Management Plan

• New Standalone document
• In line with HE best practice, only
• ne other adopted
• Sets out how City Council intends to

manage the area

• Gives practical advice as to how to

deal with planning matters

• Commitment to enforce
• Pro-active advice and guidance
• Public realm

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Vision Principles Planning Guidance Enforcement Public Realm Undeveloped Land

Public consultation

• Started on 30 Jan
• Ends 12 March
• Consultations section of

website

• E-mailed to heritage

bodies & CAP

• Public event 22 Feb at St

Margaret’s bus station

What next?

• End of consultation period
• Consideration of responses
• Process to amend boundary
• Adoption
• Quick wins – Art 4/ Enf sweep
• Longer term options

– Public realm – Undeveloped land – Targeted funding – Other funding sources – Suggestions/ priorities form consultation

Questions?