Conservation Area - TrustNews Spring 1994
The Trust responds to a Government Consultation Paper
In this recent Consultation Paper the Government reiterated its aim that Conservation Areas "should provide local communities with the means to protect and enhance the character and appearance of cherished areas".
Winchester has one, quite large, Conservation Area covering the City centre; the area round the College, the streets leading south to St Cross and Hyde. Listed buildings are well protected, whether or not they are in Conservation Areas.
Unlisted buildings in Conservation Areas are protected to the extent that demolition, most extensions and major alterations to the external appearance of the properties are subject to planning approval. But within the current regulations quite substantial changes may be made to unlisted domestic dwellings within Conservation Areas without permission. The cumulative effect of such changes, if they are not undertaken with sensitivity, can be very damaging to the appearance, not only of the individual house but to the area as a whole. This is particularly the case with terraced houses or houses planned and built as a group. For instance when older houses lose their original windows and doors and the replacements are not in keeping; when pleasant brick or flint walls disappear behind paint or pebbledash, and when slate or clay tiles give way to concrete tiles, the character is eroded. We have seen this happening in our own Conservation Area.
Copies of the leaflet 'Keep Your House in good order..' can be obtained from the Heritage Centre, the City Planning Officer, Avalon House, Chesil Street, or at the County's Information Centre, Mottisfont Court, High Street, Winchester
The Trust therefore welcomed an opportunity presented last summer by the issue of the Government Consultation paper to reflect its concerns to the Department of the Environment and to English Heritage. In company with national bodies like the English Historic Towns Forum and the Association of District Councils, the Trust urged that significant changes to unlisted buildings within a Conservation Area should no longer be "permitted development"; in other words they should be subject to planning approval.
The Trust's response made this telling point, which stemmed from our recent discussions with local estate agents:
"the preservation of original features in older homes is a strong selling point. Much inappropriate alteration is undertaken by householders who are unaware that this is the case, and that they are damaging the environment of their neighbourhood".
The Trust comments continued:
"if alterations of this nature were to be no longer "permitted development" the requirement to seek permission would provide an opportunity for advice and guidance to be given, to the advantage of the householder and the overall wellbeing of the City".
It remains to be seen what effect representations from naŽtional bodies and local societies such as our own may have. Unfortunately the prospects are not very promising, for, within the Consultation Paper itself, the Government made clear its distaste for any significant increase in development control or additional powers for Councils in connection with ConŽservation Areas.
In the present absence of effective planning control, the Trust has put time and money into persuasion, the main thrust of which has been a leaflet, as most members will know, which has been widely distributed to houses in our Conservation Area.
Some half dozen of the City's leading estate agents have readily agreed to stock the leaflet and make it available to would be buyers and, since it is felt that the "danger" period for many houses is when they change hands, several of the City's conveyancing solicitors have also agreed to hold copŽies for interested clients.