Built Heritage

353. The historic built heritage is a significant environmental, cultural and educational resource. Its vulnerability to change is reflected in the range of measures aimed at its protection. It also plays a key part in promoting economic prosperity by, for example, attracting tourists and helping to provide attractive living and working conditions. Tourism can promote the investment necessary to maintain the historic environment, provided that the development involved is compatible with conservation principles.

354. Local plans will outline the measures that can be taken to conserve and/or enhance the historic character of particular areas. In addition to development which affects the built environment directly, the indirect impact of development, including transport proposals, on cities, towns and villages must be carefully considered against these and other policies in the Plan.

E16 Development in accordance with other policies in this Plan will be permitted in and adjacent to historic towns and villages provided that it is compatible with the character of the area and its setting and will not cause demonstrable harm to interests of acknowledged importance. Particular attention will be paid to:

(a) the scale, mass and design of new buildings or structures;

(b) infrastructure and servicing requirements;

(c) traffic generation and pollution;

(d) movement and access within the historic core of settlements;

(e) the character and appearance of listed buildings and their settings and conservation areas which shall be conserved or enhanced; and

(f) open spaces and views into and out of historic areas.

355. Development can have serious implications for the historic built environment and all proposals which impact upon it should be assessed in accordance with the criteria set out in this policy. Additionally, to assess the degree to which further growth is acceptable, certain historic towns may need to be the subject of environmental capacity studies. These studies will assess development and management issues, the quality and character of the settlement and the pressures upon it and make recommendations for future action. Local plans will identify the historic towns requiring such studies. The County Council will co-ordinate the production of agreed guidelines to ensure a consistent county-wide approach.

E17 Local planning authorities will encourage development which will enhance the character and setting of historic towns and villages and which will:

a) serve to stimulate economic regeneration through the retention and re-use of historic buildings and sites;

b) promote environmental improvement through landscaping or other street enhancement.

356. Conserving the built heritage is assisted by encouraging private investment in the upkeep of older buildings. Local planning authorities will look favourably on proposals which will help to maintain the economic vitality of areas or regenerate those areas that have been in economic decline. Although listed buildings should, ideally, continue in the use for which they were designed this is not always practicable. If the only realistic means of ensuring their retention or maintenance is to change the use of the building the planning authorities should, subject to the provisions of Policy E16, adopt a flexible approach when considering such proposals.

E18 Local planning authorities will ensure the protection of the built heritage by:

(i) reviewing the need for additional Conservation Areas and adjusting existing Conservation Area boundaries;

(ii) preparing supplementary guidance and proposals for the preservation and enhancement of Conservation Areas; and

(iii) bringing to the attention of the Department of National Heritage buildings potentially worthy of listing.

357. The inclusion of buildings within the lists of buildings of special architectural and historic interest and the designation of Conservation Areas provides the principal means by which the character of historic buildings can be protected. The lists require regular review and updating to take account of new evidence and changing values.

358. The day-to-day operation of development control provides an important opportunity to ensure that the character of listed buildings and Conservation Areas is retained. Development with buildings of an appropriate design may act as a catalyst to further improve the quality of an area.

359. By contrast, inappropriate development could, eventually, result in the loss of the special interest which led to Conservation Area designation. Supplementary guidance in the form of design briefs, for example for shop fronts, has a major role to play in promoting and encouraging appropriate design and development in addition to providing support for planning authority decisions.