To consider the draft conservation area appraisal for Leominster Central Conservation Area.

Wards: Leominster North and South

A report was presented by the Team Leader (Building Conservation) setting out proposals to be recommended to the Cabinet Member (Environment and Strategic Housing) for the draft Conservation Area Appraisal for Leominster Central Conservation Area to be published for consultation with relevant parties. He said that at the meeting on 21st April 2006 the Committee had recommended a programme for the preparation of character appraisals and management proposals for 16 conservation areas.  Of these fourteen draft appraisals had been approved for consultation and that Hereford City centre was currently being surveyed.  The appraisal for Leominster Town Centre was comprised of a factual assessment of the special architectural and historic character and appearance of the Conservation Area, together with its setting. The form and content of all the appraisals followed guidance recommended by English Heritage and was endorsed by the Government.  He proposed that only those areas which had special architectural or historic interest and which Council wished to preserve or enhance should be designated as a conservation area. The appraisal had identified minor areas for exclusion and inclusion and the Criteria forming the basis for determining these was set out in the Herefordshire Unitary Development Plan under policy HBA5.  The implications arising from designation were that the Council was required by Statute to pay special attention to the desirability of preserving or enhancing the character or appearance of the conservation area when determining planning applications. Applications had to be advertised and the Council must take account of comments received. Conservation area consent for the demolition of buildings was required and additional planning controls would apply. These primarily relate to the size of freestanding buildings that require planning permission, the size and position of extensions, the type of external cladding, insertion of dormer windows and satellite dishes. Proposed works to trees required prior notice to the Council so that it could consider whether the trees merited a Tree Preservation Order.

He provided the Committee with details about the proposals which were set out in the report and explained the consultation process.  He said that it was intended that some initial consultation would be undertaken although formal comments will be sought at a later stage when management proposals had been developed. The final document for adoption would be prepared for Council approval, having regard to the material comments which would be taken into account.  The issues identified for the conservation areas fell into three categories:

                                                               i.      historic buildings in poor condition building.

                                                             ii.      inappropriate alterations to historic buildings such as modern windows.

                                                            iii.      modern buildings that do not relate to the character of the area.

                                                           iv.      open gaps where street enclosure is desirable.

                                                             v.      untidy land.

                                                           vi.      street clutter and signage; and

                                                               i.      to include areas that are considered to contribute to the special historic or architectural character of the area

                                                             ii.      rationalisation of boundaries so that they relate to defined edges of property curtilages, field boundaries, roads and lanes or other notable features.

                                                               i.      historic buildings in poor condition building.

                                                             ii.      inappropriate alterations to historic buildings such as modern windows.

                                                            iii.      modern buildings that do not relate to the character of the area.

                                                           iv.      open gaps where street enclosure is desirable.

                                                             v.      untidy land.

                                                           vi.      street clutter and signage.

The Team Leader (Building Conservation) said that Leominster Conservation Area was designated in 1969.  The town dated back to at least the 7^th century when a religious building was in place; in the 12^th century King Henry 1 had established the Benedictine Priory and by the 15^th Century, the medieval borough had a thriving market and a number of guilds, and the Priory was the centre of extensive manorial estates. Following the dissolution of the monasteries by King Henry VIII, most of the monastery buildings and part of the Priory Church were demolished. During the 18^th Century, many timber-framed structures were replaced (or refronted) by brick-built Georgian townhouses with Classical front elevations. Elegant examples can be seen throughout the conservation area, particularly in Broad Street, Church Street, Etnam Street and South Street.  Moreover, many of these houses conceal earlier timber-frames.  Shopfronts of 19^th and early 20^th Century date, with classically inspired architectural details, were inserted into earlier buildings and could be seen throughout the Conservation Area.  Today, the character of Leominster Town Centre Conservation Area was that of an historic market town with well-preserved medieval, Georgian and Victorian elements.  The adjacent open green spaces of the Priory precinct complemented the narrow streets and lanes, and wide thoroughfares of the historic town. Heritage assets within the Conservation Area include two Scheduled Monuments, one Grade I Listed Building, four Grade II, and 159 Grade II Listed Buildings.  Twelve additional buildings of local interest had been identified during the appraisal.  Thirty-nine selected sites on the Herefordshire Sites and Monuments Record are also listed in Leominster and the following six character areas have been defined for the Conservation Area:

·         the Priory Precinct;

·         the Central Core;

·         Broad Street/Church Street;

·         Etnam Street;

·         South Street/West Street; and

·         West Central Area

An analysis of each describing the particular characteristics was set out in the appraisal.

Positive areas and features considered to be of particular importance to the town include:

·         the plan form of the medieval borough (including burgage and tenement plots) and the priory precinct;

·         the narrow streets and lanes of the central core;

·         the environs of the Priory Church;

·         the site of the Benedictine monastery and the earlier Saxon occupation;

·         Grange Court and the open space of The Grange with boundary features of walls and earthworks;

·         the architectural heritage of the central core that ranges from medieval to Victorian;

·         the 15^th and 16^th Century townscapes of Corn Square (south side)/School Lane, and Etnam Street; and

·         the Georgian townscapes of Broad Street, Church Street, Etnam Street and South Street.

The Committee discussed the details of the proposals and asked questions about how the historic layout of the town could be preserved and all trees within the Conservation Area protected.  The Committee agreed with the results of the investigations and the proposals put forward for the proposed new Conservation Area boundary and those areas/properties that would be included or excluded.

RESOLVED THAT

it be recommended to the Cabinet Member (Environment and Strategic Housing) that the appraisal for Leominster Central Conservation Area be approved and that consultation be undertaken with interested parties.